Menino: Expect High Winds and Flooding From Tropical Storm Andrea

The first big storm of the Atlantic hurricane season is expected to hit Boston for a few days with lots of rain.

Photo via NOAA

Photo via NOAA

It’s officially hurricane season, and experts have indicated it’s likely going to be a bad one.

Already, Tropical Storm Andrea, the first storm of the summer in the Atlantic, has drenched the Florida Coast and officials say the intense weather is bound for Boston and other parts of the Eastern shoreline. Mayor Tom Menino issued a statement on Thursday, a day before Tropical Storm Andrea’s remnants are expected to pass through the city, and said residents should expect “bad weather,” specifically heavy winds and lots of rain.

Rain is expected to begin as early as Friday morning, and carry over into Saturday evening. Menino urged people to plan accordingly over the weekend, and to stay off of the roads if needed, and instead use public transportation when possible. “In the City of Boston, we are no strangers to changing our plans because of the weather,” Menino said. “The best thing everyone can do Friday is plan ahead. Take the T if you can—it’s expected to be a tough evening commute.”

He said Friday afternoon’s storm is expected to cause poor visibility during the commute, hitting the area with a mix of downpours, and localized street flooding. The city is preparing for the weather, and the Boston Water and Sewer Commission crews will spend Thursday clearing storm drains and catch basins to minimize street flooding.

According to officials from the National Weather Service, the remnants of the storm, which made landfall in Florida Thursday night, will track up the New England coast bringing the heaviest wind to the Cape and the Islands. “Although there is still a lot of uncertainty with this upcoming system, heavy rainfall is anticipated across portions of New England. With today being the last rain free day, it is never too early to start preparing,” officials said on their website.

You can get additional information from the National Weather Service’s Facebook page, and through their Twitter updates.