Area can expect soaking from Jose

The 2017 hurricane season is set to deliver its next two punishing blows from Hurricanes Maria and Jose. In both the Caribbean and along the Atlantic coast of the Northeast United States, conditions are set to deteriorate rapidly through Wednesday as these storms arrive.

Of the two storms, however, Maria is the much more serious hurricane. The strengthening Category 3 storm with maximum sustained

winds of 120 mph has the potential to cause widespread destruction along its path from the central Lesser Antilles through Puerto Rico.

"Maria is likely to affect Puerto Rico as an extremely dangerous major hurricane, and a hurricane watch is in effect for that island," the National Hurricane Center said Monday.

While Jose is capable of producing coastal flooding and pockets of damaging wind from Delaware to Massachusetts, its effects are most likely to resemble those of a strong Nor'easter – rather than a devastating hurricane.

JOSE

Jose, which is losing some of its tropical characteristics, is expected to behave like a strong nor'easter along the coast of the Northeast, from coastal Delaware to eastern Massachusetts.

The tropical storm watch was upgraded to a warning for coastal Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts, the areas most likely to be substantially impacted by Jose. A tropical storm watch continues for areas to the south down to Fenwick, Delaware.

The storm, positioned 265 miles east southeast of Cape Hatteras, was headed north at 10 mph Monday. The storm's peak winds were around 75 mph and expected to remain at that intensity through Wednesday.

The Hurricane Center said tropical stormforce winds could begin in coastal sections of the Northeast as soon as Tuesday and Tuesday night. Moderate coastal flooding is expected with water rising up to one to three feet above normally dry land at high tide. Because the storm is a slow-mover, beaches will be assaulted for an extended duration, leading to the prospect of severe erosion.

The worst conditions are likely from eastern Long Island to eastern Massachusetts on Wednesday when these areas may get battered by the combination of heavy rain, damaging wind gusts to hurricane-force, and coastal flooding.

"Total [rain] accumulations of 3 to 5 inches are expected over eastern Long Island, southeast Connecticut, southern Rhode Island, and southeast Massachusetts, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket," the Hurricane Center said.

It's important to note that small changes in Jose's track could increase or decrease the intensity of effects and how far they expand inland.

"Any deviation to the left of the Hurricane Center forecast track would increase the likelihood and magnitude of impacts elsewhere along the U.S. east coast fromDelaware to southern New England," the Hurricane Center said.

Irrespective of its track, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along the East Coast through much of the week.

MARIA

This storm is rapidly intensifying which is a troubling scenario for the islands it will sweep across. At 11 a.m. Monday, it was positioned 60 miles east of Martinique, plowing west-northwest at 10 mph. The Hurricane Center predicts it will reach Category 4 intensity late Monday or early Tuesday and may peak in intensity Wednesday when it is nearing St. Croix and Puerto Rico.

"Atmospheric and oceanic conditions appear favorable for additional rapid strengthening for the next 24 hours and possibly longer," the Hurricane Center said.