Politics & Government

Earl Closes Ocean Side of Tobay Beach

Tropical storm issued for parts of Long Island.

Authorities have closed the ocean side of Tobay Beach as Hurricane Earl approaches the area, town of Oyster Bay officials said.

The beach was closed to swimmers and surfers, while the bay side of the beach remained open.

As of Thursday afternoon, Earl was a Category 3 storm packing up to 115 mph winds. It was located about 185 miles south of Cape Hatteras, N.C. and headed north.  

Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Although the eye of the storm was not expected to make landfall, it is close enough to the coast to cause tropical storm winds in parts of Long Island.

A tropical storm warning has been issued by the national weather service for areas east of the Fire Island Inlet on the south shore and Port Jefferson Harbor on the north shore. A tropical storm watch is in effect for coastal areas of the island west of where the warning was issued.

Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Long Island Railroad will shut down service Friday east of Speonk on the Montauk Branch and east of Ronkonkoma on the Main Line, which normally takes customers to Greenport and Long Island's North Fork.

LIPA and National Grid say they have over 2,200 workers ready to assist in restoration efforts in case of power outages.

 

 


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