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Sep 5, 2008 11:11 pm US/Eastern
Hanna To Hit Southern New England Saturday
Flash Flood Watch Issued For N.E. As Hanna Strengthens
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Tropical storm Hanna is headed for New England.
WBZ
Tropical Storm Hanna is strenthening as she sets her sights on southern New England. The storm will soak parts of our area this weekend.
The National Weather Service issued a
flash flood watch for much of New England in anticipation of the storm.
As of 11 p.m.,
a tropical storm watch was in effect from Watch Hill, R.I., north to the Merrimack River, including Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Block Island, R.I. A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 36 hours.
A tropical storm warning was in effect from Edisto Beach, S.C., north along the coast to Watch Hill, R.I.
At 11 p.m., Hanna was about 60 miles east-southeast of Charleston, S.C., and about 140 miles south-southwest of Wilmington, N.C. The storm was moving north at nearly 20 mph.
The center of the storm should cross the coast somewhere near Wilmington late Friday or early Saturday.
From there, Hanna should cruise up the eastern seaboard and throw tropical downpours and strong wind our way Saturday night and Sunday morning. Wind gusts on the South Coast and the Cape and Islands will be 25-to-50 mph Saturday night and into Sunday.
On Hanna's current track, the Cape and islands are expected to be hit the hardest.
If the storm takes a slightly different track, it could make more of an impact inland.
Hanna will bring two bursts of rainfall - the first early Saturday and the second and stronger burst late Saturday night into early Sunday morning. In total, parts of our region will see up to a couple inches of rain.
At the shore, there will be increasing swells Saturday. Seas will remain rough and choppy Sunday. The strongest part of the storm is expected to arrive during low tide, reducing the risk of coastal erosion.
Meanwhile, out in the Atlantic, Hurricane Ike remains a powerful hurricane, fluctuating between a Category 3 and Category 4 storm. It will be a concern for the Bahamas early next week.
Our entire weather team will be tracking these systems. Check out our
forecasts and
blogs.
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