What to Know
- Jose, which was a Category 1 hurricane for several days, weakened to a tropical storm late Tuesday
- A tropical storm watch has been discontinued for the coast of Long Island
- Even though the system remained off shore, coastal neighborhoods of Suffolk County had to deal with flooding and downed trees
Jose, which went from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm late Tuesday, caused flooding and took down trees in parts of Long Island overnight, and though it's expected to pass well east of the Jersey Shore, coastal flooding and dangerous rip currents are likely there as well, forecasters say.
The poor coastal conditions could last for days as Jose fizzles out, Storm Team 4 says. The storm was about 165 miles south of Nantucket at 8 a.m., moving northeast with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Though the eye got nowhere near the tri-state, heavy rain fell overnight across much of the region. In coastal areas, that led to flooding. On Pacific Street near Shore Road in Lindenhurst, surges caused by Jose brought water into the neighborhood and into people's homes.
It was a similar situation in Sayville. Flooding was reported there at River and Browns River Road, where restaurants and homes were flooded.
Flood waters began to recede Wednesday morning, though coastal flood warnings remain in effect for Nassau County's South Shore bays and Suffolk's shores, except western parts of the county, until early afternoon. A coastal flood advisory is in effect for parts of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and northern New Jersey until Wednesday afternoon.
Gusty winds caused some damage in the area, taking down trees and power lines but causing no major injuries.
Jose is expected to pull away from the tri-state area Wednesday evening, though some models indicate it could loop back around, lingering offshore in the waters between Long Island and New Jersey, through the workweek. That would make for breezy conditions and high rip current risk for days, but no additional rain or damaging winds, according to Storm Team 4.
Meanwhile, Maria walloped Puerto Rico Wednesday, making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane. It has already been blamed for several deaths on its furious path toward Puerto Rico.
