Residents of the coastal Northeast are offshore to hurricane lurks like Dorian from the disruptive effects they feel to the next line.Dorian is forecast to pass 160 miles of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and make landfall in Nova Scotia and / or Newfoundland this weekend. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.Dorian is the first to make a forecast on the Carolina coast Friday morning.
Cruise and shipping interests should monitor the progress and avoid stormy seas of the eastern United States and into southeastern Canada this weekend.The Mid-Atlantic and New England coasts will be spared by a direct hit by Dorian as a hurricane with an eyewall forecast to remain at sea.The storm, currently moving at 14 mph as of 4 a.m. EDT Friday, is expected to continue to accelerate in the coming days.”Dorian Will Move Off Northwest Coast North Carolina By Midday Friday And Then Accelerate To The Northeast,” According To AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.The jet stream is expected to be strong enough to steer Dorian away from the United States coast and cause the storm’s forward speed to increase dramatically.
Tropical storm conditions to buffet coastal areas of northeastern US
While rain and breezy conditions are not likely to extend very far inland over the region, tropical storm conditions are forecast for portions of the mid-Atlantic into Friday night and southeastern New England during Friday night and Saturday.
In the northeastern United States, the two hardest-hit areas areas are likely to be southeastern Virginia and southeastern Massachusetts due to the proximity of Dorian, which will continue to sprawl as it travels over progressively cooler waters of the North Atlantic.
Even though the core of the hurricane will weaken, tropical storm winds, either sustained or in gusts, will reach farther out with time.Southeastern Virginia can expect moderate coastal flooding with winds strong enough to break tree limbs and cause sporadic power outages. Frequent gust to strong tropical storm force are possible. Enough rain may fall in short duration to cause street flooding outside of coastal inundation areas.
“A storm surge of 2-4 feet could impact southeastern Virginia, including Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads extending into the southern Chesapeake area,” Kottlowski said.Tornadoes are another concern in southeastern Virginia. Dorian produced multiple quick, spin-up tornadoes in eastern North Carolina on Thursday.Minor coastal flooding and beach erosion with stiff winds will spread northward over the Delmarva Peninsula and southern New Jersey during Friday then along Long Island, New York, during Friday night.
Stormy conditions are likely as far north in the mid-Atlantic as Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Montauk, New York.
During Saturday, as Dorian passes by to the southeast, minor to moderate coastal flooding, heavy rain and gusty winds will buffet southeastern Massachusetts. Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and the islands should expect strong tropical-storm-force wind gusts.