Henri weakens to tropical storm

Hurricane Henri was downgraded to a tropical storm early on Sunday as it made landfall along the East Coast.

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that Tropical Storm Henri made landfall around 12:15 p.m. ET along the coast of Rhode Island. The maximum reported wind speeds were 60 mph.

According to the NWS, Henri is forecast to move north and westward before stalling at the New York-Connecticut border Sunday night.

[BREAKING] #Henri made landfall near Westerly at approximately 12:15 pm EDT. #RIwx #MAwx #CTwx pic.twitter.com/mXV6Uxxkh7

— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) August 22, 2021

“Dangerous storm surge inundation” was expected on Sunday for Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Heavy rainfall may result in flash floods or small stream floods in Long Island, eastern New York, New England, New Jersey and northeast Pennsylvania.

Swells from Henri are expected to continue to affect the East Coast for the next few days.

Hurricane warnings had been issued for New York and Connecticut on Saturday as Henri developed into a Category 1 storm headed toward the Northeast.

Outgoing New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Saturday warned New Yorkers in flood areas to get to higher ground before Henri hit.

“If you know you are in an area that tends to flood … get out of that area now,” Cuomo said. “If you have to get to higher ground it has to be today.”