ANDREA WINDS & RAIN

Submitted by ub on

The first officially named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season is a cyclone and it has a wide reach. It has drenched the southeastern U.S. moving swiftly up the East Coast and bringing the threat of weekend flooding as far north as New England.

Andrea made its way up the US East Coast, dumping rains from North and South Carolina to as far north as New England. The storm is delaying hundreds of flights. Andrea shed its tropical characteristics but still remained a threatening storm with heavy rain and high winds.

New York City activated its flash flooding plan, while flash flood watches were issued for northern Delaware, several Maryland counties, southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and parts of New England. Connecticut was reporting numerous lane closures on highway as cars spun out amid heavy winds and drenching rains.

Meanwhile, for the island of Cuba the days of torrential rains associated with Andrea have caused rivers to jump their banks in the western province of Pinar del Rio. More than 3,300 people evacuated endangered homes, and nearly 1,000 acres of croplands were damaged. Rain was forecast to continue falling on already waterlogged areas until tomorrow.