Tropical Storm Henri Shifts West, Will Impact NJ: See Forecast

NEW JERSEY — Though Tropical Storm Henri is expected to remain off the Jersey Shore this weekend, the National Weather Service warns that strong rip currents and winds could still impact the state.

The National Hurricane Center has issued tropical storm, hurricane and storm surge watches for Long Island, New York as well as southern parts of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts on Friday. Meteorologists expect those warnings will soon include the Jersey Shore as the storm continues to shift west, packing 85 mph winds and a storm surge of three to five feet.

Tropical Storm Henri will be approaching the southern New England coast through the weekend. While tropical storm force winds are likely to stay off our coast, there could be some indirect impacts to our region: (thread) #NJWX #DEWX #MDWX #PAWX pic.twitter.com/DqwLqDFAcn
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) August 20, 2021

As of Friday afternoon, the storm was 320 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Forecasters are expecting Henri to strengthen into a category 1 hurricane on Saturday and make landfall in New England on Sunday. Southeast New England can expect 2 to 5 inches of rain, with some areas getting as much as 8 inches. Heavy rain may cause flash, urban, and small stream flooding.

The service warns that these swells could cause dangerous surf and rip currents.

"Entering the surf is discouraged. If caught in a rip current, relax and float," the National Weather Service said. "Don`t swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help."

Thunderstorms and tropical storm conditions are in the forecast on Saturday and Sunday. New rainfall amounts are expected to total between a half and three quarters of an inch, with higher amounts possible during thunderstorms.

Here’s the latest forecast:

Friday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 a.m. Patchy fog after 3 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday night: Tropical storm conditions possible. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: Tropical storm conditions possible. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Sunday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.