Hurricane Henri will continue to bring dangerous rip currents and powerful surf to all Outer Banks beaches as it passes well off the coast of North Carolina today, per a recent update from the National Weather Service Newport /Morehead City office.
A High Surf Advisory is in effect for the beaches of Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, with breaking waves of 6-10 ft. possible.
A high risk of rip currents is also in effect for the Outer Banks throughout Saturday, and localized beach erosion due to the large swell is also a concern.
As of 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, the center of Hurricane Henri was located about 180 miles ESE of Cape Hatteras, N.C. Henri is moving toward the north-northeast near 14 mph (22 km/h). A faster northward to north-northeastward motion is expected today, followed by a decrease in forward speed and a turn toward the north-northwest on Sunday.
On the forecast track, Henri is expected to make landfall on Long Island or in southern New England on Sunday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to approximately 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts, and additional strengthening is forecast through tonight, although some weakening is expected prior to landfall on Sunday. Nevertheless, Henri is forecast to be at or near hurricane strength when it reaches the coasts of Long Island and southern New England.
For more information, visit weather.gov/morehead city for your local forecast, weather.gov/mhx/tropical for the latest on Henri, and weather.gov/beach/mhx for the rip current forecast.
