Hurricane Henri moved toward Long Island on Saturday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Henri was located at latitude 38.6°N and longitude 71.0°W which put it about 180 miles (290 km) south-southeast of Montauk Point, New York. Henri was moving toward the north at 11 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 987 mb.
A Hurricane Warning was in effect for eastern Long Island from Fire Island Inlet to Port Jefferson Harbor. A Hurricane Warning was also in effect for the portion of the coast from New Haven, Connecticut to Westport, Massachusetts. The Hurricane Warning included Block Island. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the south coast of Long Island from East Rockaway Inlet to Fire Island Inlet. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the north coast of Long Island from East Rockaway Inlet to Port Jefferson, Harbor. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from East Rockaway Inlet to New Haven, Connecticut. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect from the portion of the coast from Westport, Massachusetts to Chatham, Massachusetts. The Tropical Storm Warning included Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. A Tropical Storm Warning was also in effect for the portion of the coast from East Rockaway Inlet, New York to Manasquan Inlet, New Jersey. The Tropical Storm Warning included New York City.
Hurricane Henri exhibited more organization on Saturday night but reconnaissance flights were not finding an increase in the wind speeds. A circular eye with a diameter of 30 miles (50 km) formed at the center of Henri. The eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Henri. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease slowly on Saturday. Winds to hurricane force extended out 35 miles in the southeastern quadrant of Henri. The winds in the other parts of Henri were blowing at less than hurricane force. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 150 miles (240 km) from the center of circulation.
Hurricane Henri will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next few hours. Henri will move over the Gulf Stream where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move around the eastern side of an upper level trough over the eastern U.S. The trough will produce southerly winds that will blow toward the top of Henri’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear may not be enough to prevent some intensification during the next few hours. Hurricane Henri could strengthen during the next 6 hours. Henri will move over cooler water when it moves north of the Gulf Stream on Sunday and that will cause it to weaken. Some drier air could wrap around the western and southern sides of Hurricane Henri on Sunday.
The upper level trough will steer Hurricane Henri toward the north-northwest on Sunday. On its anticipated track Hurricane Henri will approach Long Island during the middle of the day on Sunday. Henri could still be a hurricane when it nears Long Island. Hurricane Henri is likely to cause minor wind damage on Long Island and in southern New England. Gusty winds and falling trees could cause widespread power outages. Henri could move more slowly when it moves across southern New England. Locally heavy rain over a prolonged period could cause flash floods. Hurricane Henri could cause a storm surge of up to 4 to 7 feet (1 to 2 meters) where the wind blows the water toward the coast.