10 Things to Know About Hermine Now

Jon Erdman
Published: September 4,2016
Hermine is now parked off the East Coast and will continue to be a coastal pain the next few days.
(MORE: Comprehensive Forecast | Latest News | Interactive Hermine Tracker)
Here are the 10 things you need to know about Hermine right now:

1. Hermine's Forecast Track Trended More Offshore

This is a hopeful sign, though forecasts of meandering storms are always tricky.

Current Storm Information, Infrared Satellite Image

2. This Lowers the Threat From High Winds, Heavy Rain

The farther Hermine remains offshore, the less chance of high winds capable of wind damage and heavy rainfall.

Hermine's Current Wind Field

3. Tropical Storm Warnings Remain in Effect

This is in case Hermine meanders just far enough and/or its wind field expands to bring winds of at least 39 mph to parts of the coast once again.
(MORE: Why Tropical Storm Alerts for "Post-Tropical" System?)

Hermine: Watches and Warnings

4. Coastal Flooding, Beach Erosion, High Surf Peaks Into Monday

Despite a more offshore trend, this strong low will continue to be a wave generator, with peak coastal flooding in the Delmarva Peninsula, Jersey Shore, Long Island and Connecticut expected into Monday.

Model Forecast Wave Heights 24 Hours From Now

5. Coastal Flooding May Be Waist-High In Some Areas

From parts of the Delmarva Peninsula to the Jersey shore, the peak water levels during high tides could be waist-high.
(MAPS: NHC Potential Storm Surge Inundation | NHC Prototype Storm Surge Alert Map)

6. It Will Take Several Days For Waves to Calm Down

Hermine will slow down, and therefore will be a wave generator through midweek before exiting to the northern Atlantic.

Projected Path

7. Even if Weather 'Isn't Bad,' Beware of Rip Currents

Even if there aren't red flags flying at the beach, and the weather isn't too bad, stay out of the water. Rip currents claim an estimated 100 lives each year at U.S. beaches.

8. Hermine May Strengthen

Hermine should gain more strength through Monday, and may have winds of hurricane strength, though it wouldn't be a tropical cyclone. (Note: Some nor'easters in the colder season produce hurricane-force winds over the ocean, but are not hurricanes.)
(MORE: Interactive Hermine Tracker)

9. But Its Impacts Will Be the Same

The structure of Hermine (whether "post-tropical" or "subtropical") isn't important for the impacts.
(MORE: What Does 'Post-Tropical' Really Mean?)

10. No, It's Not Sandy II

Hermine's tropical-storm-force winds are rather large, but not even in the same league as Sandy's gigantic winds.
While Hermine may linger longer than Sandy, its smaller wind field, considerably weaker intensity, weaker pressure gradient and more offshore position make it no comparison to Sandy, thankfully. Though, as we said above, there will be some impactful coastal flooding and beach erosion.
(MORE: Why Hermine Isn't Another Sandy)

Wind field size of Superstorm Sandy versus forecast wind field for Post-Tropical Cyclone Hermine.