August 22 Tropical Storm Henri Downgrade But Still Spreading Wide Impacts

Sunday August 22 2021

Henri was a hurricane, but has downgraded back to a tropical storm with winds of 70 mph. It is moving over colder water, but the impacts will be the same as expected.

Heavy rain showers have already developed in central Maryland and Delmarva. The model guidance is underestimating this, which is shown below.

Henri is moving north towards the shores of southern New England and New York’s Long Island. Leading up to landfall, we expect the rain shield to spread out, and that is what we are seeing.

So far between 4 and 7 inches of rain has already fallen on New York City. Flooding in streets and tunnels, in addition with some storm surge will make for restricted travel today.

Heavy rain has spread through New Jersey and southern Pennsylvania. Now the outer edges are developing heavy rain in parts of Maryland and Delaware.

Morning Surface Weather

The shape of the structure shows forces pulling a lot of moisture well west. Impacts this morning extend to New Jersey and southern Pennsylvania. Outer edge storms are expected to form in Maryland and Delaware today.

This report will cover the latest on the storm and what we can expect in the Mid Atlantic on the edge. Tropical showers will develop and some of our region could get downpours with a quick 1 inch or more of rain.

Main Weather Risks:

Flooding from storm surge and tropical downpours.
Wind damage from the storm and spin up tornados.
Power Outages expected to be widespread.
The feeder bands extend far west into Southern Pennsylvania.

Conditions From The National Hurricane Center:

DOWNGRADED TO TROPICAL STORM

SUMMARY OF 700 AM EDT...1100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...40.6N 71.2W
ABOUT 50 MI...80 KM SE OF MONTAUK POINT NEW YORK
ABOUT 85 MI...135 KM S OF PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...70 MPH...110 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...N OR 350 DEGREES AT 18 MPH...30 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...986 MB...29.12 INCHES

Tropical Satellite

Notice the core of the storm with the red shading. He bulk of the activity icon the west side across southern New England, metro New York, and New Jersey.

Also: The pull of moisture well west, across the Maryland and Pennsylvania border. I will address this impact on our region below…

National Hurricane Center Track

This is being compared to the last direct hurricane impacts on this region. Those were Irene in 2011 and Gloria in 1985. So, it’s not often a direct hit from a tropical system this storm happens here.

The track puts this into New England, and slows down, then turns to the east. This will be on land through late Monday, where wind, rapid spin up tornados, and heavy rain cover a large area.

Landfalling tropical systems spread out their coverage, and this will hit a large area.

Warnings

Hurricane and Storm Surge Warning for Long Island and Connecticut
Tropical Storm Warning: Northern New Jersey, New York City, Rhode Island.
Flooding will be widespread from heavy rain, which has already been seen into southern PA this morning in Lancaster County.
Coastal Flood Advisory for Anne Arundel County thanks to the winds sloshing on the Bay from the East in conjunction with the Full Moon high tides.

Local Rain

Radar Animation

Doppler Radar Snapshot:

This look at 7:30 AM already shows heavy rain across north central Maryland.

Movement is from the North, shifting to the South-Southeast.

Tropical downpours can quickly drop 1 inch or more of rain. Get under a few, and local flooding is possible in central Maryland and Delmarva.

Radar Simulation —> slider

Note: This product is a suggestion.

It is already missing the early rain in Maryland, and has often under estimated the rain coverage. Use this for potential movement, timing, and regional coverage of rain bands.

Weather Almanac: Climate Data

TODAY August 22

Normal Low in Baltimore: 65ºF

Record 52ºF in 1956

Normal High in Baltimore: 85ºF

Record 99º F 1983

Temperatures

This Afternoon: Cooler with expected rainfall…

Saturday Morning

Saturday Afternoon

7 Day Forecast

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