Sep 6, 2008 5:52 pm US/Eastern
Hanna Delivers Torrential Rain, Powerful Wind
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Coastal areas of Massachusetts were under a Tropical Storm warning Saturday, as Hanna made her way up the eastern seaboard. The storm
came ashore in the Carolinas overnight with winds near 70 mph.
The first rain burst from Tropical Storm Hanna hit New England early Saturday morning, as an outer band dumped up to an inch of rain in some spots.
The true leading edge of the storm arrived in our region late Saturday afternoon, with widespread heavy rain by Saturday evening and winds in excess of 40 mph.
Boston experienced a short-lived downpour around 2:50 p.m. and then heavy downpour in the early evening hours.
Hanna is expected to remain a Tropical Storm as it hits New England in earnest Saturday night.
The heaviest rain from Tropical Storm Hanna was over southern New England by Saturday night p.m., with heavy rain for most of our area and torrential downpours in south-central Massachusetts, parts of Bristol County, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Those areas can expect two to four inches of rainfall by midnight, and wind gusts up to 55 mph.
Overnight Saturday into Sunday the heaviest rain and wind will move north to the South Shore, and eastern parts of Suffolk, Middlesex and Essex Counties.
By the time Tropical Storm Hanna moves out of our region, WBZ meteorologist Barry Burbank says some spots in southern and eastern Massachusetts may have three to five inches of rainfall.
There is a risk of street flooding and small stream flooding from Tropical Storm Hanna, which is why a
Flash Flood Watch was issued for all of central and eastern Massachusetts, as well as southern New Hampshire.
The entire coastline is under a
Tropical Storm Warning because of the high winds expected. The warning area spans from the Merrimack River south, through Boston Harbor, the South Shore, Cape Cod Bay, the Cape & Islands, South Coast and down through Rhode Island and Connecticut.
The Coast Guard is urging boat owners to secure their vessels, and put their name and contact information in any small craft such as kayaks and canoes that may blow away in the storm.
National Grid is prepared to be dealing with widespread power outages, with extra crews on hand over the weekend.
Find out what to do in case of a blackout
Residents throughout the region should make sure their catch basins and sewer drains are clear, and secure any outdoor furniture.
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