NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Here's everything to know about this weekend's weather that's tropical in name, but far from its titular home:
HUH, A HURRICANE IS HITTING NEW ENGLAND?
Maybe! Rare tropical weather is of the U.S., destined for New York and New England 鈥� two regions that don't often play host to tropical systems.
WHAT AREAS IS THE STORM SUPPOSED TO AFFECT?
Right now, it鈥檚 looking like New York鈥檚 Long Island and southern New England 鈥� particularly Connecticut. If it makes landfall in New York, that would be the first time the state鈥檚 sustained a direct hit during a hurricane season since 2012鈥瞫 Superstorm Sandy 鈥� Either way, it's expected to make landfall Sunday, but effects could be felt as soon as Saturday.
WHO IS HENRI? WHO IS BOB? WHO IS GLORIA?
A stormy trio. Henri strengthened into a hurricane Saturday morning 鈥� and will perhaps become New England's first in 30 years. responsible for the deaths of 17 and $1.5 billion in damage in August 1991. But with Connecticut in Henri's sights, some might better remember Gloria 鈥� the September 1985 hurricane made landfall on both Long Island and Connecticut and caused eight deaths and nearly $1 billion in damage.
JE M'APPELLE HENRI 鈥� WHY DO I SHARE A NAME WITH A HURRICANE?
These storms have human names for each Atlantic hurricane season.
SO WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS NEEDED FOR AN HENRI (OR BOB OR GLORIA)?
There are two ingredients needed for a storm to track this far up north: a tropical system itself and steering currents. Most tropical systems in the northern hemisphere run out or recur before they can make their way north, according to the National Weather Service.
OK, SO THIS IS PRETTY RARE. IS HENRI'S PATH CONNECTED TO CLIMATE CHANGE?
No, perhaps surprisingly. It's just a tropical weather phenomenon, the National Weather Service says. We shouldn't necessarily expect to see more frequent New England tropical storms.
WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO DO TO PREPARE FOR HENRI?
This isn't New England or New York's first rodeo with weather writ large. After all, a nor'easter is just a hurricane with a Boston accent. It's not too different in the Long Island dialect either. So, the usual protocols apply: Get boats out of the water, gas up cars, stock the pantry and batten down the hatches. Be prepared for power outages, too.
WE'RE IN THE DOG DAYS OF AUGUST 鈥� ARE THERE STILL TOURISTS ON THE ATLANTIC COAST?
Oh, yes. School is back in session in parts of the east coast, but there are still thousands of tourists enjoying the beaches of Cape Cod, the Hamptons and elsewhere.
IS HENRI A FAST- OR SLOW-MOVING STORM?
Henri isn't winning any races. Its slow churn could be a good thing, increasing the chance it will falter quickly. But it could also mean a lot of concentrated rain, which translates to flooding.
WAIT, WAS HURRICANE BOB THE SAME AS 鈥楾HE PERFECT STORM鈥�?
Nope, though both storms were in 1991. The 鈥� also known as the Halloween Storm 鈥� hit New England about two months later. It started as a nor'easter, in which form it inflicted the most damage. A hurricane eventually formed at its center 鈥� but it purposely went unnamed, because meteorologists worried it would be distracting.
SAY IT HAD BEEN NAMED, WHAT WOULD IT HAVE BEEN KNOWN AS?
Henri.
SERIOUSLY?
Yep! Atlantic hurricane names are recycled every six years, unless they're 鈥� we're never going to see another hurricane named Katrina, or even Bob, again. And the 鈥淗鈥� name was next on the list when the storm struck.
SO THAT MOVIE ISN'T ABOUT BOB?
Correct. 鈥淭he Perfect Storm" was a based on a book of the same name We're getting a little off-topic, here, though.
OK. YOU SAID HENRI IS EXPECTED TO BE THE FIRST HURRICANE TO HIT NEW ENGLAND IN 30 YEARS 鈥� BUT WHAT ABOUT IRENE?
Irene was indeed a hurricane, but it was technically a tropical storm.
Mallika Sen, The Associated Press
