Henri's punch will power 60 mph gusts, bring down trees, cause outages

Even though Henri has been downgraded to a tropical storm, the Greater Rochester area could see heavy tree damage and widespread power outages due to rain-soaked soil that has compromised root systems.

Top gusts are predicted between 40-60 mph locally, which is plenty enough to bring down large trees, especially after recent rains from Fred and in July.

Some of the heaviest winds from Henri will likely be felt late today and through much of Monday.

The heaviest rainfall of 4-8 inches will occur on Long Island and parts of Connecticut, Rhode Island and western Massachusetts.

And while the downgrade to a tropical storm is good news, the winds may be only a few miles weaker than a Cat. 1 hurricane.

Peak gusts of 80-100 mph are expected for portions of the Cape and Islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

New England hasn't seen a storm as powerful as Henri since Hurricane Bob in 1991.

As of 9 a.m. Henri was closing in on Montauk, N.Y., at the eastern tip of Long Island.

Rain locally is expected by midafternoon today and to continue on and off through Tuesday around noon with a few thunderstorms forecast for the early morning hours on Tuesday.

Safety officials urge residents to make sure outdoor furniture and other objects are tied down or brought inside.

Below are some more tips to stay safe.

To prepare

Stay informed - sign up for NH Alerts at ReadyNH.gov and monitor news and weather for current conditions.

Have an emergency kit with enough food, water and medicine for everyone in your household for a minimum of three days. Don't forget your pets.

Have a plan - have contact information, know your evacuation route or alternative location, and a plan of action for emergencies.

Before the storm

Monitor local radio or television for official emergency information and instructions.

Tie down or bring in any objects that could be blown around by winds.

Board up or cover windows.

Know your potential risk for flooding and you evacuation route - if advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

During the storm

Stay away from windows and glass doors. Secure and brace external doors.

If conditions warrant, take refuge in a safe room - a small, interior room.

Report power outages to your utility provider.

Call 9-1-1 in an emergency.

Accuweather material was used in this report