UPDATE: Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued as Tropical Storm Hermine Threatens Labor Day Weekend

UPDATE 9:30 a.m. Thursday: Tropical Storm Hermine Strengthening, But Track Shifts

UPDATE 8 p.m.: The NWS has issued the following hazardous weather outlook for Long Island:

TROPICAL STORM HERMINE MAY IMPACT THE AREA OVER THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND. COASTAL FLOODING IMPACTS...AS WELL AS HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS...ARE POSSIBLE DEPENDING ON THE EXACT TRACK AND STRENGTH OF THE SYSTEM.

EVEN IF THE STORM DOES NOT DIRECTLY IMPACT THE AREA...DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS WILL BE POSSIBLE AS THE STORM MAKES ITS CLOSEST APPROACH.

Original story:

A "tropical depression" in the Gulf of Mexico, reclassified as a tropical storm and given the clunky moniker Tropical Storm Hermine (pronounced "her-mean") Wednesday afternoon, may be headed for Long Island, according to a graphic released by government weather officials.

The storm's projected path was still very uncertain Wednesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

However, an initial rendering showed Hermine headed directly toward Long Island, with an expected arrival date of Saturday, Sept. 3, into Monday, Sept. 5 — aka, Labor Day weekend.

Hermine was expected to hit Florida by Friday."Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 36 hours, and Hermine could be near hurricane strength by the time landfall occurs," the NWS said.

ABC's local NYC station reported: "Meteorologist Lee Goldberg said if the storm stays over land, it will weaken by the time it reaches our region, but it will still be a significant event. In this scenario, we could expect Nor'easter-like weather, with a lot of rain and wind."

The NWS says there will be a chance of rain and gusty winds in the region beginning late day Saturday or Saturday evening, continuing into Sunday and then tapering off on Monday.

"There is potential for a period of heavy rain and strong winds Saturday night into Sunday, especially if the center of circulation tracks directly toward and close enough to the area, which remains uncertain," the NWS said in a forecast discussion Wednesday evening.

Even if Hermine doesn't hit directly, the NWS has warned Long Island residents and beach-goers to watch out for "high surf and strong rip currents" while the storm's nearby. A Brooklyn man drowned at a Long Island beach on Monday night.

By Simone Wilson

Images courtesy of the NWS