Hurricane Henri was on Sunday downgraded to
a tropical storm as it continues its approach towards the Northeast of the United
States, where it is expected to make landfall later today. The storm is currently
barrelling towards New York’s Long Island and in southern New England, and is
slated to be worst storm the region has seen in nearly 30 years, according to the
Associate Press.  

Here
is everything you need to know about the storm:

Also Read | Homecoming concert cancelled midway due to approaching Hurricane Henri

Difference
between a Hurricane and a Tropical Storm

The primary difference between a hurricane
and tropical storm is in the sustained wind speeds. Anything above 74 mph is categorised
as a hurricane, while it is 73 mph for a tropical storm.

On Sunday morning, Henri’s wind speeds were
clocked at 70 mph, just shy of a hurricane.

Is
wind the main threat or water

The main threat from a storm of the size of
Henri is the water, as heavy rains cause storm surges and inland flooding.
These things are historically known to be a greater threat to life and property
more than high winds.

Also Read | Parts of Tennessee receive intense rainfall, NWS issues flash flood warning

Which
areas will be affected by Henri

New York’s Long Island and southern New England,
Connecticut in particular, are slated to bear the brunt of the storm. If the
storm makes landfall in New York, it will be the first time since 2012’s
Superstorm Sandy that the state has been directly hit during a hurricane
season. The state is still suffering from the effects of that storm.

How can
people prepare for Henri

Both New York and New England have dealt
with such storms before so people should be familiar with some standard protocols
to follow. One should get their boats out of water, keep your cars fuelled and some
extra gas might come in handy, keep your pantries stocked up and stay prepared
for power outages.

Also Read | New England prepares for Hurricane Henri, tourists urged to leave

How Henri
compares with Sandy

Sandy was classified as a superstorm
because it exceeded the definitions of a hurricane when it wreaked havoc on New
York City, its suburbs and the Jersey Shore in October 2012. Henry shouldn’t be
that bad, but it is expected to cause alarming levels of flooding in the already
saturated Hudson Valley River. Power outages caused by the storm could last up
to a week or more.