Hurricane Watch Issued For Parts of Massachusetts; MetroWest Excluded But Will See Heavy Rains & Winds

[broadstreet zone=”70106″]

BOSTON – Thge National Weather service out of Boston/Norton has issued a Hurricane Watch for parts of Massachusetts, but not MetroWest.

Tropical Storm Henri is forecast to strengthen to a hurricane as it heads northward today, August 20, and is expected to make landfall near Newport RI Sunday evening, possibly as a Category 1 hurricane.

Henri will weaken rapidly after landfall but will exit the region slowly through Monday. The main hazards include damaging winds, flooding rain, and storm surge flooding.

Prepare for life-threatening wind having possible extensive impacts across south coastal Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and the Islands.

[broadstreet zone=”61072″]

Potential impacts in this area include:

• Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural damage. Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed. Damage accentuated by airborne projectiles. Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks.
• Many large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over.
• Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. Several bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable.
• Large areas with power and communications outages. .

[broadstreet zone=”59946″]

While MetroWest will not see hurricane force winds it will see dangerous wind and flooding rain,

Moderate rainfall flooding may prompt several evacuations and rescues.

Rivers and tributaries may quickly become swollen with swifter currents and overspill their banks in a few places, especially in usually vulnerable spots. Small streams, creeks, and ditches overflow.

Flood waters can enter some structures or weaken foundations.

Several places may experience expanded areas of rapid inundation at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Some streets and parking lots take on moving water as storm drains and retention ponds overflow. Driving conditions become hazardous. Some road and bridge closures.

[broadstreet zone=”59983″]