Potential Tropical Storm To Hit LI Saturday, Surf Advisory In Effect

LONG ISLAND, NY — A high surf advisory will go into effect on Long Island on Saturday, as a Potential Tropical Cyclone and frontal system is predicted to impact the region, the National Weather Service said.

The storm was situated off the coast of South Carolina on Friday, with 50 mph winds.

Once it forms a completely closed circulation, it will become a named tropical or subtropical storm, which has both tropical and non-tropical characteristics. As of Friday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) was designating the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone 16, AccuWeather said.

The high surf advisory will go into effect from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., when the storm is predicted to reach the Northeast. A rip current statement is also in effect until Saturday at 9 p.m.

Long Island will experience rain on Saturday, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m, with gusts as high as 38 mph.

"Confidence is high that the system brewing just off the Atlantic coast will become a tropical or subtropical storm," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said. "A subtropical storm, which has both tropical and non-tropical characteristics associated with it, is most likely due to the structure of the storm."