145 mph Iota still intensifying - catastrophic landfall expected, L.I. wind gust reports & forecast:
After the wild storms last night, it will be a mostly dry week for Long Island and southern New England. The only precipitation will be a few rain or snow showers tomorrow afternoon/evening as a reinforcing shot of cold air arrives. The weekend looks dry and milder with highs mostly in the upper 50's.
Here are some wind gust reports from last night:
Stamford, CT 67 mph
Newark Airport 60 mph
NYC/La Guardia 62 mph
Uniondale 51 mph
Islip Airport 54 mph
Hurricane Iota explosively intensified into a Cat 4 overnight with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph. It should continue to strengthen and could be near Cat 5 intensity when it makes a catastrophic landfall in Nicaragua tonight with 155 mph winds, 20 to 30 inches of rain, and a storm surge up to 15 feet!
From the NHC: "Iota is expected to remain in environmental conditions characterized by near-zero vertical wind shear, SSTs near 29 deg C, and a moist mid-level environment. The combination of these factors plus the relatively small radius of maximum winds (RMW) of about 10 n mi, argues for continued rapid strengthening right up until landfall occurs, and Iota could be near Category 5 strength at that time."
LONG ISLAND FORECAST:
Today (Monday): Mostly sunny and windy with highs around 50 degrees. Wind gusts up to 25 mph from the west.
Tomorrow (Tuesday): Partly to mostly cloudy at times with a 30% chance of some passing showers. Becoming windy in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 40's. A passing snow shower is possible in the evening. Wind gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon and evening from the northwest.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, windy, and cold with highs only around 40 degrees. Wind gusts up to 25 mph from the northwest.
Thursday: Partly cloudy with highs in the upper 40's.
Friday: Mostly sunny with highs in the upper 50's.
Saturday: Mostly sunny with highs in the upper 50's.
Sunday: Partly cloudy with highs in the upper 50's.
- 1st image: Hurricane Iota
- 2nd image: Key messages for Hurricane Iota from the NHC
- 3rd image: Projected snowfall for the next 10 days from the Euro
- 4th image: Projected precipitation for the next 5 days from the Euro
- 5th image: Projected temperatures for Long Island for the next 10 days from the National Weather Service model blend
