A tropical storm watch is in effect for Long Island and southern Connecticut as Hurricane Jose tracks north in the western Atlantic through midweek.
Jose, located about 610 miles south of Montauk Point, is currently packing 85 mph winds and moving north at 9 mph. Jose is expected to pass southeast of this area late Tuesday night into Wednesday, according to the latest National Weather Service forecast.
A turn toward the north-northeast is expected on Tuesday night, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 a.m. public advisory. The center of Jose is forecast to pass well offshore of the Outer Banks of North Carolina today, pass well east of the Delmarva peninsula tonight and Tuesday and pass well to the east of the New Jersey coast on Wednesday.
Jose’s maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 85 mph with higher gusts. Some gradual weakening is expected during the next couple of days, however, Jose is forecast to remain a hurricane through Tuesday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles. The hurricane will be close enough to to bring potential impacts of tropical storm force winds, coastal flooding and heavy rainfall Tuesday into Wednesday.
The best chance for tropical storm force winds and heavy rain will be across eastern Long Island and southeast Connecticut. Jose is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 5 inches over eastern Long Island, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Minor to moderate coastal flooding is also expected, with widespread water levels of 1 to 2 feet and locally up to 3 feet above ground level possible.
