Henri to leave Northeast Monday night, flood watches remain in effect

Flood watches are in effect from northeastern Pennsylvania to New Hampshire.

Henri continues to churn across the Northeast where heavy rain and flooding are still possible through Monday night.

Flood watches remain in effect from northeastern Pennsylvania to New Hampshire.

The storm made landfall as a tropical storm in Rhode Island early Sunday afternoon, bringing wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour and a storm surge of up to 4 feet to the surrounding regions. Over 9 inches of rain was recorded in Brooklyn, New York. Henri weakened to a tropical depression on Sunday night and will leave the Northeast by Monday night.

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Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Aug 21, 2021, 2:37 PM EDT

Over 55 million people across 5 states under hurricane and tropical storm warnings 

Over 55 million people across the New England region are under hurricane and tropical storm warnings as hurricane Henri barrels closer. 

Hurricane warnings are currently in place for New Haven, Connecticut; Newport, Rhode Island; and in Riverhead and Montauk, New York.

5 states from New Jersey to Massachusetts are under tropical warnings and hurricane warnings until further notice.
ABC News

Tropical Storm warnings stretch from Belmar, New Jersey, to Hartford, Connecticut, through Chatham and Provincetown, Massachusetts. 

James Masog and Gary Tavares move particle board into place to board up the sliding glass doors of a clients house in Charlestown, R.I., ahead of Hurricane Henri, Aug. 21, 2021.
Stew Milne/AP

Carson Turowski, secures his boat as his wife Lindsey drives it onto the trailer as they remove it before pending bad weather in Newport, R.I., Aug. 21, 2021.
Stew Milne/AP

Aug 21, 2021, 1:40 PM EDT

Gov. Andrew Cuomo declares state of emergency for some New York regions, urges locals to ‘prepare’

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for Long Island, New York City, Hudson Valley, Westchester, and the Capital District region on Saturday as Henri is expected to make landfall Sunday in Long Island. 

Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York, conducts a press conference regarding Hurricane Henri in Albany, N.Y., Aug. 21, 2021.
governor.ny.gov

“The state is doing everything we can to be ready. We’re prepositioning emergency equipment all through Long Island, Hudson Valley, we’re preparing water rescue teams for Long Island and the Hudson Valley and in Westchester,” he said in a press briefing Saturday. 

He said if Henri hits as a Category 1 hurricane it’ll bring 80 mph winds, gusts up to 90 to 100 mph, and storm surge between 3 to 6 feet.

He warned locals to remember Superstorm Sandy, saying “This is right now projected to be that level of a storm. It is as serious as a heart attack.”

Cuomo said he is activating 500 National Guardsmen with necessary emergency equipment such as high water vehicles and the state will have 1,000 personnel on duty in the affected areas. 

Port Authority expects flights to be cancelled and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will cancel service in Long Island starting at midnight, he said. 

He urged locals who live in areas prone to flooding to leave immediately for higher ground.

Aug 21, 2021, 1:12 PM EDT

Voluntary evacuation order for New York’s Fire Island

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced a voluntary evacuation order for residents and visitors of Fire Island in New York on Saturday.

He said Saturday is the only chance for locals and visitors to leave the island and ferry and water taxi service will be suspended Sunday. Emergency shelters will be set up for evacuees, he said in a press conference. 

Portions of Long Island are currently under hurricane and storm surge warnings as Henri draws near, expected to make landfall in Suffolk County on Sunday. 

A sign on the Southern Parkway alerts drives that there is a Hurricane Warning in Effect as Hurricane Henri moves up the coast on Aug. 21, 2021 in Wantagh, N.Y.
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

“This storm is significant and potentially dangerous and is likely to be really impactful,” he said. “Remember the storm we experienced last year, Tropical Storm Isaias, was not a direct hit. We had 650,000 power outages from that storm. We are now looking at a weather event that may be hitting us directly.”

Aug 21, 2021, 10:55 AM EDT

Henri strengthens into hurricane

Henri intensified into a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 75 mph Saturday morning around 10:45 a.m. as it continued on its track northeast.

Henri has strengthened into a Category 1 Hurricane, with winds of 75 mph.
ABC News

Henri has strengthened into a Category 1 Hurricane, with winds of 75 mph.
ABC News

Its track has slightly shifted to the east. On its current path, Henri is forecast to make landfall in eastern Long Island tomorrow afternoon at or near hurricane strength before weakening slightly as it reaches Connecticut, just east of New Haven.