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

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

ByMeredith Deliso, Max Golembo, Melissa Griffin, Julia Jacobo, Marlene Lenthang, Ivan Pereira, Morgan Winsor, and Samantha Wnek
Last Updated: August 23, 2021, 2:40 PM EDT

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.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Aug 22, 2021, 8:46 PM EDT

Henri downgraded to tropical depression

Henri continued to weaken Sunday night and is now downgraded to a tropical depression, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is now located 10 miles southwest of Hartford, Connecticut and has sustained winds of 35 mph.

The National Hurricane Center warned that the storm will continue to produce heavy rainfall and flooding across portions of southern New England and Northern mid-Atlantic states through Monday.

-ABC News' Hope Osemwenkhae

Aug 22, 2021, 7:35 PM EDT

Power to be restored by mid-week: National Grid

National Grid said it is deploying over 4,000 personnel in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to restore power to affected areas.

As of 5 p.m. Sunday, approximately 72,600 customers in Rhode Island and 8,500 in Massachusetts were without power, according to the utility.

"The hardest hit communities in Rhode Island include South Kingstown, Narragansett, Westerly, Jamestown, Charlestown and North Kingstown," National Grid said in a news release.

The utility said it estimates to have power restored to all affected customers by mid-week.

Aug 22, 2021, 5:49 PM EDT

Tropical Storm warnings discontinued

Tropical storm warnings for the Northeast states affected by Henri were dropped around 5 p.m Sunday.

However, 40 million Americans across nine states from Delaware to New Hampshire remain under a flash flood watch as the threat for major flash flooding continues through Monday.

A New Market Volunteer Fire Company rescue crew member wades through high waters following a flash flood, as Tropical Storm Henri makes landfall, in Helmetta, New Jersey, Aug. 22, 2021.
Tom Brenner/AFP via Getty Images

Rainfall rates of two inches and hour have been reported in areas experiencing flash flooding, and an additional half a foot of rain is still forecast with highest amounts likely over the Lower Hudson Valley, Northeast New Jersey, New York City, Connecticut and western Massachusetts.

-ABC News' Melissa Griffin

Aug 22, 2021, 4:55 PM EDT

Biden promises quick response to affected areas

President Joe Biden updated Americans on the federal government's response to Tropical Storm Henri.

Biden reiterated that he has approved the state of emergency orders declared in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York and said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is ready to help affected communities.

He said thousands of live crews from the agency are already on their way.

"They'll clean up fallen trees, help local utilities repair damaged lines and restore service as fast as possible," Biden said at his news conference.

Biden warned that the storm is still causing flooding and reminded affected residents to prepare for more damage throughout the coming days.