Hermine expected to batter US east coast for days

Hurricane Hermine caused major damage along the Florida Gulf Coast Friday morning before moving north into the Carolinas. (TWC/Getty Images)

Tropical Storm Hermine is going to be kept at bay to our south this weekend, by strong high pressure centered over Quebec. That high pressure will provide sunny, tranquil weather for southern Quebec and northern New England. Further south along the southern New England and Mid-Atlantic coasts, it will be a very different story.

This morning, Hermine is located 60 miles west northwest of Hatteras, North Carolina. The Outer Banks took a beating overnight, with heavy rain, in excess of 125mm (5 inches), as well as 60 mph winds and pounding surf. A tornado was reported on Hatteras Island, damaging a campground with minor injuries reported. From Florida to Virginia, hundreds of thousands are without power. So far one fatality has been reported from Hermine. Tropical storm Hermine is expected to move off the coast back into the open waters of the Atlantic later today. The storm will undergo some rather technical transformations over the next 24 hours, however she will remain a very dangerous storm. With the lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy, the National Hurricane Center will continue to provide updates on the storm, regardless of whether she is tropical, post-tropical or extra-tropical.

The projected track of Hermine has her stalling off the Jersey Shore this weekend. (NHC)

Call her what you want, the coast from Delaware to Long Island will be hammered for days during successive high tide cycles. The fear is for Sandy-like damage to coastal infrastructure in many locations. This holds especially true for the Jersey Shore. The storm will meander off the coast through at least Tuesday and perhaps longer before being swept out to sea.

 I will provide frequent updates on Hermine throughout the holiday weekend via twitter @valleyweather2 and this blog. Stay safe.