New York

Farewell, Hermine: Tri-State Dodges Worst of Storm, Making Slow Exit Out to Sea

The new models and satellite data suggests a slight eastward track to the storm, potentially reducing many of its impacts

What to Know

  • Hermine continues to drift in the Atlantic Ocean, deliver rough seas and wind at tri-state beaches
  • Now more of a nor'easter as opposed to a tropical system, Hermine will slowly jog north, then northeast out to sea
  • Coastal communities still face a mild to major threat of isolated flooding.

Hermine took a turn towards the coast on Monday morning, a concern for coastal communities worried about storm surges and flooding, but most of the tri-state remains in the clear. 

The post-tropical cyclone was backing up towards Atlantic coast after moving 300 miles off the coast of the tri-state on Sunday, but it will eventually jog north, then northeast slowly out to sea, Storm Team 4 says. 

The northwest move could lead to coastal flooding, beach erosion and 10-to-15 foot waves along Long Island and parts of the Jersey Shore. Despite the coastal threat, the storm was expected to weaken as it moved towards shore and then out to sea. 

Strong winds, even tropical storm force winds, are possible to the east of New York City on Monday into Tuesday, especially out towards the Hamptons.

Most coastal areas along the North Shore of Long Island and Connecticut were expected to see minor to moderate flooding, but areas on the South Shore and out east, including Freeport, Lindenhurst, Riverhead and Montauk, should prepare for possible major flooding during the next high tides. 

For the rest of the tri-state, Hermine's only impact will be a strong breeze rustling trees and making flags flap. Hermine is still expected to churn off the coast for the next couple of days, and the wind could stick around until Wednesday. 

Hermine will eventually move back out to sea late Tuesday or Wednesday, and that's when coastal conditions will start to improve.  

Hermine's slow exit is actually preventing the heat dome in the middle part of the country from arriving, so the heat looks to be delayed until Thursday. After that, heat will build Thursday through Saturday, with moderate levels of humidity.

Hermine shifted its track further east Sunday afternoon, but Storm Team 4 said that the small change is resulting in greatly improved storm outlooks for large parts of the tri-state area.

The forecast is a vast improvement from forecasts earlier in the week, which pointed toward more widespread impact from the storm. Dozens of beaches across the region were closed to swimmers over the long Labor Day weekend due to the risk of increased rip currents, and officials urged visitors to Fire Island to leave the island Sunday ahead of the storm. 

The voluntary evacuation on Fire Island, however, was lifted by Suffolk County Monday afternoon. 

Hermine has already caused two deaths, damaged properties and left hundreds of thousands without electricity from Florida to Virginia. It also spawned a tornado in North Carolina.

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