All about Henri as storm wanes, plods by way of US Northeast

NEW YORK (AP) — Henri — as soon as a hurricane, then a tropical storm — is now a tropical despair. The storm crawled deeper inland on Monday, with forecasters saying its remnants have turned eastward and are heading again over New England on its return to the Atlantic Ocean.

What to know concerning the storm because it winds down:

IS HENRI STILL A HURRICANE?

No. The Nationwide Hurricane Middle downgraded it to a tropical storm early Sunday after which to a tropical despair later within the day. It weakened because it made landfall in Rhode Island at noon. By early Monday, it was weaker nonetheless as its heart moved slowly over western Massachusetts and Connecticut.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HURRICANE, TROPICAL STORM AND DEPRESSION?

It’s all concerning the wind. Particularly, the sustained wind speeds. The utmost sustained winds for a hurricane are something above 74 mph. A tropical storm? 39-73 mph.

As of Sunday night, Henri’s sustained winds topped out at 40 mph (64 kph), properly beneath hurricane standing.

It dropped to a tropical despair when sustained winds fell beneath 39 mph.

WHAT AREAS IS HENRI AFFECTING?

After coming ashore, Henri veered west, dumping massive quantities of rain on Connecticut, New York’s Hudson River Valley, components of New Jersey and even Pennsylvania. Rain continued falling in a few of these areas Monday, however cleanup was largely underway in New Jersey..

The storm surge — a wall of sea water pushed forward of the storm by its winds — wasn’t important prefer it was with 2012′s Superstorm Sandy, the results of that are nonetheless plaguing New York.

WHO IS HENRI? WHO IS BOB? WHO IS GLORIA?

A stormy trio. Henri had strengthened right into a hurricane Saturday morning earlier than shedding steam Sunday. Had it made landfall as a hurricane, it will have been New England’s first in 30 years. Bob was its predecessor, accountable for the deaths of 17 and $1.5 billion in harm in August 1991. However with Connecticut in Henri’s path, some would possibly higher keep in mind Gloria — the September 1985 hurricane made landfall on each Lengthy Island and Connecticut and prompted eight deaths and almost $1 billion in harm.

JE M’APPELLE HENRI — WHY DO I SHARE A NAME WITH A STORM?

These storms have human names courtesy the World Meteorological Affiliation, which pulls up a listing of 21 names for every Atlantic hurricane season.

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS NEEDED FOR AN HENRI (OR BOB OR GLORIA)?

There are two elements wanted for a storm to trace this far up north: a tropical system itself and steering currents. Most tropical programs within the northern hemisphere run out or recur earlier than they’ll make their approach north, in response to the Nationwide Climate Service.

OK, SO THIS IS PRETTY RARE. IS HENRI’S PATH CONNECTED TO CLIMATE CHANGE?

It’s only a tropical climate phenomenon, the Nationwide Climate Service says. However on the similar time, local weather change isn’t off the hook in the case of tropical climate — international warming exacerbates hurricanes, making them stronger and wetter.

HOW DOES HENRI COMPARE TO SANDY?

Sandy’s referred to as a superstorm round these components, as a result of it was technically an extratropical system when it did its worst to New York Metropolis, its suburbs and the Jersey Shore in October 2012. Henri has not been that onerous on town or the shore, however it may trigger calamitous flooding within the saturated Hudson River Valley. Energy outages all through the larger area may final per week or extra. And with Sandy, at the least, there was extra time to organize. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced up Sandy in a Saturday information convention, saying Henri comparatively supplied “brief discover.”

CUOMO? HE’S STILL AROUND?

Sure! Cuomo is governor till 11:59 p.m. EDT Monday, so he’s technically nonetheless in cost for now.

WE’RE IN THE DOG DAYS OF AUGUST — ARE THERE STILL TOURISTS ON THE ATLANTIC COAST?

Oh, sure. Faculty is again in session in components of the east coast, however there are nonetheless 1000’s of vacationers having fun with the seashores of Cape Cod, the Hamptons and elsewhere.

WAIT, WAS HURRICANE BOB THE SAME AS ‘THE PERFECT STORM’?

Nope, although each storms had been in 1991. The so-called “good storm” — often known as the Halloween Storm — hit New England about two months later. It began as a nor’easter, wherein type it inflicted essentially the most harm. A hurricane ultimately shaped at its heart — however it purposely went unnamed, as a result of meteorologists apprehensive it will be distracting.

SAY IT HAD BEEN NAMED, WHAT WOULD IT HAVE BEEN KNOWN AS?

Henri.

SERIOUSLY?

Yep! Atlantic hurricane names are recycled each six years, until they’re retired out of notoriety — we’re by no means going to see one other hurricane named Katrina, and even Bob, once more. And the “H” identify — Henri in 1991 — was subsequent on the checklist when the storm struck.

SO THAT MOVIE ISN’T ABOUT BOB?

Right. “The Excellent Storm” was a 2000 film starring George Clooney and New England’s personal Mark Wahlberg, based mostly on a ebook of the identical identify by Sebastian Junger. We’re getting a bit of off-topic, right here, although.

WHAT ABOUT IRENE?

2011′s Irene was certainly a hurricane, however by the point it ravaged Vermont, it was technically a tropical storm.