Hurricane Henri: Expect High Wind, Floods, Rising Seas On Sunday

NORTON, MA — With Hurricane Henri bearing down on Southern New England, local leaders are urging residents to finish preparations on Saturday for a long-duration storm that will bring heavy rain, tropical-force winds and surging seas to a wide area between Cape Cod and western Massachusetts.

Forecasters believe Henri will make landfall Sunday afternoon near Montauk, N.Y., with strong winds arriving earlier. Henri will track to the northwest, which means the eastern side of the storm, which has higher winds, will be facing Worcester and Boston. In an update Saturday at 5 p.m., the National Hurricane Center shifted Henri's track slightly to the east, showing it hovering over central Massachusetts by Monday morning.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said Henri will not be "the direct hit" that was forecast earlier this week — but it's not something to ignore. He advised residents to check with local forecasts before heading out on Sunday, and said it's possible the forecast will change again before the storm hits.

The biggest concern, Baker said, is widespread power outages due to high winds.

"Even if you don't normally lose power during a storm, you should be preparing to deal with the possibility you'll lose power for an extended period of time," Baker said during a Saturday afternoon news conference.

The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning for an area stretching from Little Compton, RI, to New Haven, Conn. Cape Cod, southern Bristol County in Massachusetts and the interior of Rhode Island from Providence to Woonsocket were all under a tropical storm warning.

There was also a storm surge warning for all of Cape Cod and the entire Rhode Island and Connecticut coastlines. The forecast warned of 3 to 5 feet of inundation, with the greatest threat in Narragansett Bay.

Apart from the main storm track, the larger "cone" of Henri will affect an area from Portland, Maine, east to Upstate New York — and that includes all of Massachusetts. The area between Worcester and the New York border was under a flood watch with more than 3 inches of rain possible.

Some parts of the state, like Worcester County, may be at greater risk of flash flooding, Baker said, because of heavy rains in July and in recent days.

Henri will also bring a chance of small, localized tornadoes, according to forecasters, like what was seen on Thursday morning during storm Fred. The eastern side of storms like Henri typically produce higher winds, while the western side produces more rain.

In a news conference Saturday, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee urged all state residents to prepare to stay home on Sunday. He also said the Red Cross will be opening five shelters across the state in Providence, Middletown, Cumberland, Warren and South Kingston.

"My message to you Rhode Island: now is the time to prepare," McKee said. "I know the weather is nice today, I know it's a Saturday, but we need everyone to take the time now to be ready to stay home tomorrow when conditions worsen."

Related: MA Residents Urged To Stay Home For Henri Sunday

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation is closing all of its facilities for the duration of the storm. Likewise, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is closing state beaches and parks on Sunday with a delayed opening on Monday.

The MBTA in the Boston area will reduce service on Sunday, and won't run the Green Line D Branch, Mattapan Trolley and the ferry system. MassDOT said it may restrict travel over the Cape Cod Canal if conditions warrant. The agency may also restrict empty trucks and tandem tractor trailers on state highways.

The storm was also causing event cancellations across the region, from Sunday's Worcester Red Sox game to an ice cream festival in Natick. Logan Airport was warning travelers to check for delays and cancellations.

Forecasts show Henri will be in the vicinity of the Quabbin Reservoir by about 2 a.m. Monday. The western side of the storm is expected to bring the heaviest rain, which means a soaking for the Berkshires. Baker said National Guard troops and state police will be focusing on the western and central parts of the state as needed.

Henri will likely weaken and become a tropical depression by Monday afternoon, moving out of the region northeast across southern New Hampshire and Maine.

Hurricane Henri Resources

• Check power outages in Massachusetts
• Check power outages in Rhode Island
• Check NWS Boston-North Watches, Warnings
• NOAA National Hurricane Center Updates
• Hurricane preparedness tips