Shift In Hurricane Irma Track: What It Means For Long Island

The intensely powerful Hurricane Irma is tearing through the Caribbean and is now making its way toward Florida in what could be a storm of historic proportions. Long Island won’t be facing the brunt of the storm but could see some of its aftermath.

Irma is expected to degrade long before it reaches Long Island, but the remnants could drop some rain on the state in the middle of next week, according to AccuWeather forecasters. Long Island experienced a similar occurrence when the remains of Hurricane Harvey brought rainfall to the region earlier this week.

The storm was downgraded to a Category 4 storm, but it is still expected to wreak havoc in the Southeast. Its latest track takes it very close or right over the Florida peninsula, according to the National Hurricane Center. That worst-case scenario for Florida is looking like the likeliest outcome, but its exact path isn't known.

Analysis: Irma's 'Cone Of Uncertainty' Is Massive

Irma's new track takes it even farther away from the Northeast and will likely lessen the amount of rain we should expect later next week.

The storm could be more destructive than Hurricane Andrew, which killed 65 people in 1992. Florida Gov. Rick Scott urged residents who are thinking of leaving the state to do so as early as possible and for everyone to exercise extreme caution as the storm hits.

"This thing is bigger than our entire state," Scott warned during a press conference on Thursday.

North and South Carolina are under states of emergency as a precaution. Parts of Georgia are under a mandatory evacuation.

Here's the Long Island weather forecast for the next week, courtesy of National Weather Service:

• Friday afternoon: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind around 14 mph.
• Friday night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 7 to 10 mph.
• Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. North wind around 9 mph.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 71. North wind 6 to 10 mph.
• Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
• Monday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
• Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76.
• Tuesday night: A 30 percent chance of rain after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
• Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
• Wednesday night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

Graphics courtesy of the National Hurricane Center and Accuweather

Patch reporter Rich Scinto contributed to this report