Hurricanes

This year’s Atlantic hurricane season, which starts on Thursday and ends on Nov. 30, is expected to be “near-normal,” according to climate forecasters with the National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Long Island got lucky as Hurricane Henri, which pivoted east and west and back again as it traveled up the coast, stayed just east of the island dumping heaviest rains in parts of NYC, NJ and Connecticut.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to arrive across the East End this morning, with hurricane conditions possible, according to the National Weather Service in Upton. North winds of 30 to 40 mph will becoming west 35 to 45 mph this afternoon. Hurricane and storm surge warnings remain in effect.

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at Riverhead High School (700 Harrison Avenue, Riverhead) for residents who live in flood-prone areas that will be affected by Hurricane Henri, Riverhead Police announced this evening. Here's the latest on Henri from the National Hurricane Center.

Now's the time to prepare for the arrival of Henri, a strong tropical storm that is expected to intensify as it moves up the coast today and make landfall on Long Island Sunday either as a Category 1 hurricane or a strong tropical storm.

Hurricane Henri is expected to track across Long Island at or near hurricane strength Sunday, according to the latest National Weather Service advisory.

A hurricane warning has been issued for Suffolk County east of the Fire Island Inlet on the south shore and east of Port Jefferson Harbor on the north shore. On the current forecast track, Henri is expected to make landfall in Long Island or southern New England on Sunday, according to the latest bulletin issued by the National Hurricane Center.

A hurricane hasn't made landfall on Long Island since Gloria, a Category 2 storm, on Sept. 27, 1985, but the odds are still low, even in a more active than normal hurricane season like 2021.

A Category 3 hurricane would cause storm surge that would inundate large swaths of the North Fork. A Category 4 storm would inundate entire communities.

Hurricane Hermine, downgraded to a tropical storm, will likely bring heavy rain, strong winds, coastal flooding and beach erosion to the East End Sunday night through Tuesday.