Hurricane Irma: How Will It Affect Long Island?

Hurricane Irma's terrifying wrath continued tearing through the Caribbean Thursday, threatening to batter Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas with what looks set to be a storm of historic proportions. Long Island, thankfully, is not facing anything like the dangers approaching further south, but the region isn't expected to escape unscathed.

Recent forecasts indicate that, while all attention should focus on the southeast, Irma's rainy impact could drench Long Island starting in the middle of next week, according to forecasters at AccuWeather. It's just a week after the remnants of Hurricane Harvey drenched the Northeast.

The National Weather Service says there's a 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms next Tuesday night and Wednesday on Long Island.

In one scenario, Irma hits Florida Sunday, then would likely head north, according to AccuWeather. On that course, by about Tuesday Irma should be north of Kentucky, and by Wednesday we would start to see some of what's left in the storm system on Long Island. Dangerous rip currents at ocean-facing beaches on Long Island are possible over the next week due to ocean swells churned up by Irma.

Still a Category 5 storm, Irma had been blamed for at least 10 deaths by Thursday. Residents across Florida continued preparations for the storm that is expected to arrive in the state during the early morning hours Sunday. Evacuations are underway from Florida to the Carolinas.

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

It has become more likely that Irma will make landfall in southern Florida as a dangerous major hurricane, and bring life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts to much of the state, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. update Thursday.

Yet another hurricane – Jose – is following close behind Irma. Early forecasts are hopeful that the storm will loop northward and have little impact on the U.S. mainland.

"It's possible Jose might slow down and stall just south of Bermuda early next week as steering flow around the system drops off considerably," AccuWeather hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said.

Watch: Deaths, Destruction Reported As Hurricane Irma Heads Toward Florida

Irma, Jose and Harvey formed during the peak of the 2017 hurricane season. Forecasters call the period between mid-August and mid-October the “season within the season.” This eight-week period “is often the most active and dangerous time for tropical cyclone activity,” according to NOAA.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 each year. Average seasons produce about 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes. Three of the hurricanes are generally deemed major.
Residents readying for the ongoing season can get tips and advice on the federal government’s Ready.gov website.

Reporting by Patch's Sherri Lonon and Adam Nichols

Graphics courtesy of the National Hurricane Center and Accuweather