Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall (Update)

Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
Pedestrians struggle to control their umbrellas due to inclement weather brought about by Tropical Storm Fay, Friday, July 10, 2020, in New York. Beaches closed in Delaware and rain lashed the New Jersey shore as fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay churned north on a path expected to soak the New York City region. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Tropical Storm Fay made landfall in New Jersey on Friday amid heavy, lashing rains that closed beaches and flooded shore town streets, before weakening as it moved over New Jersey.

The fast-moving storm system was expected to continue weakening overnight, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in its 11 p.m. advisory. The storm was moving north at 17 mph (27 kph) and producing top sustained winds of 40 mph (64 kph), forecasters said.

The storm is expected to bring 1 to 3 inches (3 to 7 centimeters) of rain, a further reduction from earlier forecasts' estimates. Flash flooding in certain areas is possible, as is minor coastal flooding in the tropical storm warning area stretching north from New York's Long Island to Rhode Island.

The storm made landfall along the coast of New Jersey about 10 miles (15 kilometers) north-northeast of Atlantic City, according to national forecasters, and the center of the storm was around 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of New York City as of the latest advisory.

Several beaches in Delaware had been temporarily closed because of the storm. And police in Ocean City asked drivers to avoid southern parts of the tourist town because flooding had already made some roads impassable. Some streets in the New Jersey shore towns of Sea Isle City and Wildwood were flooded, according to social media posts. Seaside Heights, New Jersey, reported a sustained wind of 37 mph (60 kph) and New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport reported a wind gust of 45 mph (72 kph), said forecasters.

Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
Kelly Buckle, right, of Brielle, N.J., and her ten-year-old son Evan, run with their new puppy Taz through a park in Manasquan, N.J., during a driving rain from Tropical Storm Fay, Friday, July 10, 2020. Fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay made landfall in New Jersey, Friday amid heavy, lashing rain that closed beaches and flooded shore town streets. (Thomas P. Costello/The Asbury Park Press via AP)

Heavy rain was falling in New York City on Friday afternoon as the center of the storm moved northward.

"We expect some pretty heavy winds, and we need people to be ready for that, and some flash flooding in certain parts of the city," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a briefing Friday morning.

The summer storm's impact on the city was expected to be "pretty limited," but de Blasio said it would be a bad night for outdoor dining—the only sit-down service allowed at city restaurants because of the pandemic.

"If you were going to go out tonight, instead order in and keep helping our restaurant community," he said.

The shoreline town of Old Saybrook, Connecticut, was preparing to open the local high school as a 2,000-person shelter. In a nod to the coronavirus outbreak, Police Chief Michael Spera they will be handing out masks and will not be sending residents to the gym or other common areas.

Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
A sport utility vehicle moves down a flooded street in Ventnor, N.J., Friday, July 10, 2020. Fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay made landfall in New Jersey on Friday amid heavy, lashing rains that closed beaches and flooded shore town streets. (Kristian Gonyea/The Press of Atlantic City via AP)

"They will actually be escorted into individual classrooms," he said. "If you take a school and make pretend that it's a hotel, we'll be using individual classrooms like individual hotel rooms."

He said families will be allowed to stay together in one room. People who indicate they have symptoms that might be associated with the virus will be segregated to a separate area of the school.

President Donald Trump said the storm is being monitored and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was poised to help if needed.

"We're fully prepared. FEMA's ready in case it's bad. Shouldn't be too bad, but you never know," Trump told reporters while departing the White House for Florida.

Trump postponed his Saturday rally in New Hampshire due to the weather, Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said.

The storm was expected to move across southeastern New York overnight and then across western New England into southeastern Canada by Saturday, when it's expected to become a post-tropical low before dissipating Sunday.

  • Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
    Dave Cox, of Manasquan, N,J., has his hair blown around as waves crash into the Manasquan side of the of the Manasquan Inlet, Friday, July 10, 2020, in Manasquan, N.J. Fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay made landfall in New Jersey on Friday amid heavy, lashing rain that closed beaches and flooded shore town streets. (Thomas P. Costello/The Asbury Park Press via AP)
  • Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
    Rain from Tropical Storm Fay floods a street in Ventnor, N.J., Friday, July 10, 2020. The fast-moving tropical storm made landfall in New Jersey on Friday amid heavy, lashing rains that closed beaches and flooded shore town streets. (Kristian Gonyea/The Press of Atlantic City via AP)
  • Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
    A pedestrian avoids being splashed by passing automobiles during heavy rain brought by Tropical Storm Fay, Friday, July 10, 2020, in New York. Beaches closed in Delaware and rain lashed the New Jersey shore as fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay churned north on a path expected to soak the New York City region. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
  • Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
    Elia Estevez, left, and Jose Estevez, of Island Park, N.Y., walk in the rain during a visit Long Beach, Friday, July 10, 2020. Fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay brought with it heavy, lashing rains that closed beaches and flooded coastal town streets. (Chris Ware/Newsday via AP)
  • Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
    Pedestrians use umbrellas to protect themselves from inclement weather brought about by Tropical Storm Fay as they walk near Columbus Circle, Friday, July 10, 2020, in New York. Beaches closed in Delaware and rain lashed the New Jersey shore as fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay churned north on a path expected to soak the New York City region. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
  • Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
    A cyclist uses a plastic rain cover to protect themselves from rain brought about by Tropical Storm Fay Friday, July 10, 2020, in New York. Beaches closed in Delaware and rain lashed the New Jersey shore as fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay churned north on a path expected to soak the New York City region. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
  • Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
    A tractor-trailer plows through standing water on a flooded Sea Isle City street, on New Jersey's Long Beach Island, Friday, July 10, 2020, in this photo made from video provided by Anthony Kutschera Jr. The Jersey shore was lashed Friday as the fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay churned north on a path expected to soak the New York City region. (Anthony Kutschera Jr. via AP)
  • Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
    A woman uses an umbrella as she exits the Lincoln Center subway station during a rain shower brought about by Tropical Storm Fay, Friday, July 10, 2020, in New York. Beaches closed in Delaware and rain lashed the New Jersey shore as fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay churned north on a path expected to soak the New York City region. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
  • Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
    Cars are parked on a flooded street in Ventnor, N.J., Friday, July 10, 2020. Fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay made landfall in New Jersey on Friday amid heavy, lashing rains that closed beaches and flooded shore town streets. (Kristian Gonyea/The Press of Atlantic City via AP)
  • Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
    A man observes the street as he enters the Lincoln Center subway station during a heavy rain shower brought about by Tropical Storm Fay Friday, July 10, 2020, in New York. Beaches closed in Delaware and rain lashed the New Jersey shore as fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay churned north on a path expected to soak the New York City region. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
  • Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
    Pedestrians use umbrellas to protect themselves from inclement weather brought about by Tropical Storm Fay, Friday, July 10, 2020, in New York. Beaches closed in Delaware and rain lashed the New Jersey shore as fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay churned north on a path expected to soak the New York City region. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
  • Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
    A Long Beach police car is parked near a fallen tree in Long Beach, N.Y., Friday, July 10, 2020. Fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay brought with it heavy, lashing rains and strong winds that brought down trees and flooded roadways in the region. (Chris Ware/Newsday via AP)
  • Tropical Storm Fay weakens after New Jersey landfall
    Pedestrians use umbrellas to protect themselves from inclement weather brought about by Tropical Storm Fay while walking near Columbus Circle Friday, July 10, 2020, in New York. Beaches closed in Delaware and rain lashed the New Jersey shore as fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay churned north on a path expected to soak the New York City region. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Fay is the earliest sixth-named storm on record, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. The previous record was Franklin on July 22, 2005, Klotzbach tweeted.

Two named storms formed before the official June 1 start of the hurricane season. None of this season's previous five named storms strengthened into hurricanes.

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