ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 continues to track Hurricane Grace and Tropical Storm Henri. Read updates below:
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11:30 p.m. update
Tropical Storm Henri is expected to gain hurricane status this weekend as it heads to Long Island and potentially New York City.
Henri is expected to bring rip currents to Florida beaches, Channel 9 meteorologist George Waldenberger said.
Grace has reached a Category 3 hurricane.
Grace & Henri on opposite sides of Florida moving opposing directions. Grace, headed to Mexico, is the strongest Atlantic cyclone yet this year. Henri is close to becoming the third Atlantic hurricane of the year, headed to the northeast US coast. pic.twitter.com/c7gTcKICzL
— George Waldenberger (@GWaldenWFTV) August 21, 2021
11 a.m. update
Grace
Hurricane conditions and dangerous storm surge expected along portions of eastern mainland Mexico beginning later today.
The hurricane warning area stretches from Puerto Veracruz northward to Cabo Rojo.
Forecasts call for heavy rainfall through the weekend with the potential for flash flooding, along with the possibility of mudslides.
Grace continues to track west at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.
Photos: Hurricane Grace slams Mexico’s Caribbean coast
Henri
Tropical Storm Henri continues to gain strength and is now forecast to become a hurricane before making landfall in New England this weekend.
Henri continues to track northwest at 7 mph with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.
Tropical Storm Henri is now forecast to make landfall in New England this weekend. It should gain hurricane strength in the next 24 hours and bring high-end tropical storm or hurricane conditions from Delmarva to Maine, especially Long Island to Cape Cod. pic.twitter.com/7DnqLyYprc
— Rusty McCranie (@RMcCranieWFTV) August 20, 2021
8 a.m. update
Grace
Grace regained hurricane status.
The storm is likely to continue to strengthen before it makes landfall in Mexico.
Forecasters said the store should make landfall along the coast of mainland Mexico on Friday evening or night.
The National Hurricane Center said data from the Air Force Hurricane Hunters indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 85 mph.
After landfall, Grace should weaken rapidly as it moves into the mountains of central Mexico.
Henri
Hurricane Hunters are investigating Henri as it continues to gain strength.
Forecasters said storm surge and hurricane watches are in effect for potions of the northeastern United States.
Henri is forecast to accelerate toward the north through early next week and approach the coast of southern New England on Sunday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph. Strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and Henri is expected to become a hurricane by Saturday.
5 a.m. update
Grace
Tropical Storm Grace is expected to restrengthen into a hurricane on Friday.
Forecasters said Grace is expected to move across the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and make landfall along the coast of mainland Mexico by Friday evening or night.
See: Tropical system terms explained
The storm’s winds are near 70 mph.
The National Hurricane Center said strengthening is likely until Grace makes landfall, and the system is expected to regain hurricane strength this morning. After landfall, Grace should weaken rapidly as it moves into the mountains of central Mexico.
Henri
Tropical Storm Henri is expected to become a hurricane by Saturday.
The National Hurricane Center issued storm surge and hurricane watches for portions of the northeastern United States.
READ: Atlantic hurricane season shows no signs of slowing down, NOAA says in mid-season update
Henri is forecast to accelerate toward the north through early next week and approach the coast of southern New England on Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said.
The storm’s winds are near 65 mph.
READ: How many times has Walt Disney World had to close for a hurricane?
HENRI will become a hurricane, with a landfall in Southern New England this weekend. It will bring strong rip currents for us in Florida. Tracking now on Channel 9! pic.twitter.com/1nbSyfehFB
— Brian Shields, WFTV (@BrianWFTV) August 20, 2021
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