Philippe weakened from a tropical storm to a post-tropical cyclone on Friday, but could still bring another round of strong winds and rain to parts of the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Atlantic coast of Canada this weekend as the weather system trends further north in the Atlantic said meteorologists.
Heavy rains and gusty winds caused by the remnants of Philippe, coupled with a cold front approaching from the west, will begin late Friday and peak Saturday afternoon and evening in the New York tri-state area, Mike Bettes, meteorologist for The Weather Channel, said Friday.
The New England coast could see winds of 25 to 30 miles per hour, Bettes said.
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According to the National Weather Service, flash flooding could occur in parts of New York state and New England, with a particular risk of heavy rain in eastern Maine.
The storm is expected to reach Atlantic Canada by Sunday, but will have weakened significantly by then, forecasters said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul warned New Yorkers in a statement Friday evening that while Philippe’s rains would not be as heavy as the record rainfall that flooded the New York metropolitan area last month, the impact could still be devastating .
“While it is unlikely that we will reach the amount of precipitation we saw last week, the ground in New York City is so saturated that flash flooding could occur again in high-risk areas,” Hochul said. “In particular, those living in basement apartments that have been flooded in the past should immediately prepare an evacuation plan.”
In its latest report late Friday morning, the National Hurricane Center said Philippe was swirling over the South Atlantic about 110 miles south of Bermuda. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour and was moving north at a speed of about 16 miles per hour.
Philippe path and forecast
Meteorologists expect Philippe to gain momentum over the next few days as it moves toward the northeastern United States and Canada.
The National Hurricane Center’s warning said the storm was likely to gain speed by Saturday night and take a “turn toward the north-northwest” after passing near Bermuda on Friday. Philippe was forecast to reach New England and eastern Atlantic Canada late Saturday or early Sunday.
A satellite image of post-tropical cyclone Phillipe at 9:37 p.m. EDT on October 6, 2023 as it approaches the northeastern United States NOAA/NESDIS/STAR
Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches, with local amounts of 5 inches, are expected for “parts of New York and New England as Philippe moves through the region this weekend,” the hurricane center said. “Isolated to isolated incidents of urban flooding and flash flooding are expected.”
Bermuda was already experiencing large waves that were expected to continue for several days, the hurricane center said, adding that these conditions could lead to life-threatening surf and rip currents. However, a tropical storm warning for Bermuda was lifted on Friday.
Tropical cyclone is an umbrella term that refers to any weather phenomenon characterized by rotating, low-level cloud systems and thunderstorms that form over tropical or subtropical waters, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Once a tropical cyclone’s maximum sustained wind speed exceeds 38 mph (61 km/h), it is considered a tropical storm. A post-tropical cyclone is a cyclone that “no longer has sufficient tropical characteristics to be considered a tropical cyclone,” writes the National Weather Service, warning that it may bring strong winds and heavy rain in both directions.