Tropical Storm Hermine Expected to Stall For Days Off Coast, Major Coastal Flooding Possible on Long Island

UPDATE 11 a.m.: A tropical storm watch has now been issued for Long Island.

Hurricane Hermine made landfall in Florida early Friday morning before weakening back into a tropical storm that will likely bring "significant impacts" to Long Island over a several-day period after it tracks up the East Coast, according to the National Weather Service.

As of 8 a.m. Friday, Hermine, which has triggered tropical storm warnings across the Southeast, was centered over Georgia with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. It was moving north-northeast at nearly 14 mph and expected to move further inland on Friday and into the Carolinas by Friday night and Saturday morning.

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On Long Island, the following hazardous weather outlook is in effect:

Starting late Saturday, Tropical Cyclone Hermine could impact the area with effects lasting through the Labor Day holiday weekend into Tuesday. Moderate to major coastal flooding impacts as well as heavy rain and strong winds are possible depending on the exact track and strength of the system. At the least, a high risk for rip currents as well as beach erosion will exist through the weekend and into early next week.

Hermine is likely to stall near the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts, causing adverse conditions for days regardless of its official classification of a tropical versus non-tropical storm, according to AccuWeather.com.

By 7 p.m Saturday, Hermine will be sitting off the Mid-Atlantic coast and then lift just slightly north over the following 24 hours, the NWS says.

"The global models keeps the system meandering off the Delmarva/New Jersey coast through the middle of the week due to strong blocking upper level ridges both to the east and west," the NWS said in a forecast discussion Friday morning.

Long Island may experience significant impacts from coastal flooding, gale force winds, beach erosion and rip currents, the NWS says.

"[Wind] gusts between 60 and 75 mph are possible from Long Island, New York, to coastal New Jersey, and the southern tip of Delmarva," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek said.

There's currently a 40 percent chance that Long Island will experience tropical storm-force (39-73 mph) winds, the NWS says.

The main threat from the storm for the island will be coastal flooding, according to Long Island meteorologist Joe Cioffi, who doesn't believe rain will be a big issue.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he has directed the State Office of Emergency Management to closely monitor Hermine's path and for state agencies to be prepared. The MTA, Port Authority, Department of Transportation, National Guard, State Police, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, State Parks and Public Service Commission are on alert and ready to respond in the event the storm impacts our region.

Images via the National Weather Service