United States: risk of hurricane in New England, region normally spared

Part of the northeastern United States, including New York City, has been placed on alert for the approach of Tropical Storm Henri, which may become the first hurricane in 30 years to hit the New England coast.

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Henri comes with the risk of flooding and high winds that could cause serious damage, US weather services said on Friday.

According to the forecast track, this tropical storm “should make landfall in southern New England at the end of the day Sunday,” the National Hurricane Center said in a bulletin, but weather services were alerting to potential impacts as early as Saturday.

“If Henri hits Southeastern New England as a hurricane this weekend, it will be the first hurricane to make direct landfall since Bob in 1991,” a spokesperson for the US agency said. study of the ocean and the atmosphere, quoted by public radio NPR.

Faced with this threat, several governors called on the population to be cautious. In Massachusetts, the city of Boston, Governor Charlie Baker called on “everyone to avoid unnecessary travel,” especially in coastal areas.

In this state, where all beaches and parks will be closed between Saturday and Monday, the storm could cause power cuts for 100,000 to 300,000 residents, say the governor’s services.

The hurricane warning is also valid in parts of Long Island in New York state, and in the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island, the national weather service alerted on Twitter on Friday, warning of the risks. “dangerous waves and currents”.

Part of the coast near New York City is affected by the tropical storm alert.

“This is the first time in nearly 10 years that a hurricane watch has been issued for parts of our region,” New York City weather services said, adding that the last time it was was Hurricane Irene at the end of August 2011.

The weather services warn that the strong winds could cause numerous material damages, in particular on roofs of houses, on roads, and cause cuts of electricity and telecommunications.

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