Hurricane Dorian NYC: Rain, Wind As Category 1 Churns Up E Coast

NEW YORK — A rainy and windy start to the weekend is in store for New York City as Hurricane Dorian makes its way up the East Coast. New York will be spared the brunt of the storm, which has ravaged some southern states this week, but 15 mph winds and dangerous rip currents are still in the forecast.

The hurricane, a Category 1, was still 30 miles off the coast of North Carolina as of 7 a.m. Friday morning but will start moving north throughout the day, according to the National Hurricane Center. It will pass by New York about 150 miles off the coast of Long Island, forecasters predicted.

Dorian battered several southern states over the past few days. More than 69,000 customers lost power in North Carolina on Thursday. The storm has already claimed four lives in the United States —in North Carolina and Florida — and killed at least five people when it passed through the Bahamas.

By the time it gets to New York, Dorian is expected to bring up to an inch of rain and wind gusts anywhere between 15 and 35 mph, forecasters said.

City officials already closed down New York City beaches in preparation for dangerous rip currents and ocean swells that could form on the city's shores.

The stormy conditions will start to fade into Friday night as Dorian moves up toward Canada. The hurricane is expected to be in Nova Scotia by Saturday.

Here's what to expect through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service:

Friday: A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph

Friday night: A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 61. North wind 15 to 17 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. North wind 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Northwest wind 7 to 10 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.

(NOAA)