Date: Fri 17-Sep-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

weather-hurricane-Floyd

Full Text:

Floyd Hustles Through!

(with cut)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Sunny skies are predicted for this weekend, but late this week as The Bee went

to press, much of the Northeast was bracing itself for Hurricane Floyd, a

powerful storm which was ripping across the Carolinas Thursday morning.

Floyd was expected to approach this area by late Thursday night or early

Friday morning. By that time, however, the hurricane was expected to be

downgraded to a tropical storm. Connecticut was already feeling the effects of

Floyd Wednesday night and Thursday morning as several inches of rain fell on

the area. The storm track had been following the coastline and was expected to

turn to the east before wreaking too much damage in New England.

"We're starting to see the effects of Floyd now," noted Chris Wasserback of

the Western Connecticut State University weather center at 8:15 am Thursday.

"We're seeing some heavy rains now. Later this evening, the storm will pass to

the south of Long Island."

At that point, this area was expected to be hit with torrential downpours and

strong, gusty winds of 20 to 40 mph. Peak gusts of 50 to 60 mph -- to hit

sometime in the night -- were expected to cause some power outages.

"Flooding is a guarantee at this point," Mr Wasserback said.

By Friday morning, however, forecasters were calling for rapidly improving

conditions with sunshine by late morning and into the afternoon.

"The worst will be over by 7 am. While it will be a fierce storm, the duration

will be short, which will save us a devastating impact," Mr Wasserback said.

Temperatures this weekend were expected to rise into the 70s.

The weather man is also now saying it is all right to water your lawn.