A lifeguard at Robert Moses beach puts up red flags prohibiting swimming on Friday due to rough waters caused by Hurricane Earl
Hurricane Earl is now a Category 1 storm, and the tropical storm watch for Nassau County has been discontinued. A tropical storm warning still remains in effect for Suffolk.
Earl’s maximum sustained winds are now at 85 mph. The storm’s speed has increased, and is now moving north northeast at 21 mph. It is expected to pass between 100 and 200 miles southeast of Montauk late Friday. According to the National Weather Service, Suffolk County could have winds up to 60 mph.
Forecasters also predict heavy rain, and waves that could be as high as 12 feet. The National Weather Service expects substantial beach erosion with washovers possible, especially along the south shore.
Beaches throughout Nassau and Suffolk are closed due to the dangerous conditions of the ocean. The beaches in Nassau that are closed are the Village of Atlantic Beach, Long Beach, Nickerson Beach, Point Lookout, Lido Beach, Lido West, Mailbu, East Atlantic Beach, Jones Beach and Tobay. The following Suffolk County Parks have been impacted by the hurricane:
West Hills, Huntington: Full operations open (youth group camping, dog run, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, etc.)
Blydenburgh, Smithtown: Camping closed due to West Nile Virus positively sampling. Rest of park open 8:00 am – 6:00 pm (dog run, picnics, hiking, historic area, rowboating)
Cathedral Pines, Middle Island: Full operations open (camping, biking, hiking, picnics, etc.)
Southaven, Brookhaven: Camping closed (West Nile Virus). Rest of park open 8:00 am – 6:00 pm (picnics, hiking, rowboats, etc.)
Smith Point, Shirley: Outer beach closed for camping and day trips. Bathing beach closed. Open for camping (inland)
Gardiner County Park, West Bay Shore open daily for hiking/walking until dusk. Closed after 6:00 pm (West Nile)
Sears Bellows, Hampton Bays: Full operations open (camping, rowboats, fishing, picnics, etc.)
Indian Island, Riverhead: Full operations open (camping, hiking, fishing, picnics, etc.) – Site to be monitored for possible closure tomorrow.
Cedar Point, East Hampton: EVACUATED (Thursday 9/2 & Friday 9/3).
Shinnecock East, Southampton: Outer beach open for camping and day trips on the Bay Side. Oceanside closed to all vehicular traffic. Outer beach area will be closed for day trippers tomorrow.
Cupsogue Beach, Westhampton: Outer beach (Bay Side) open for camping and day trips. Outer beach area will be closed tomorrow for day trips.
Meschutt Beach, Hampton Bays: Open for swimming, camping.
Theodore Roosevelt, Montauk: EVACUATED (no activity).
[popup url=”http://assets.longislandpress.com/photos/gallery.php?gazpart=view&gazimage=6938″]
Click here to view more photos of Hurricane Earl’s impact on Long Island [/popup]
The Long Island Rail Road has already suspended service east of Speonk and Ronkonkoma. Bay-Shore based Fire Island Ferries will stop running at 3 p.m. Friday. Sayville Ferry Service has canceled services to some communities as well and additional cancellations are likely. Patchogue-based Davis Park Ferry Company has service until 3:20 p.m., with service after to be announced.
PetSafe Coalitiion is opening an emergency shelter at Bideawee Inc., located at 3300 Beltagh Avenue, Wantagh. The shelter will be open Friday afternoon through the duration of the effects of Hurricane Earl. Those interested in volunteering should contact 516-404-5513.
In Suffolk County, shelters may open based on the nature, severity and the number of residents impacted. The Suffolk County Red Cross will open a voluntary pre-storm shelter at the Montauk Playhouse Community Center located at 12 Flamingo Avenue in Montauk. Shelter locations are also available to residents who visit www.SuffolkCountyNY.gov.
Suffolk County police also reminded residents that during severe weather conditions to call 911 only in real emergencies and to call 631-852-COPS to report flooding and downed trees. Any electrical outages can be reported directly to the Long Island Power Authority at 1-800-490-0075.
Press Wins Top Honors at PCLI Media Awards
