Cape, Coast and Islands Under Hurricane Watch

The National Weather Service is advising residents in the region to prepare for a possible hurricane for Saturday evening into Monday.

Tropical storm Henri's path is still unpredictable, but the system could gather strength as it passes over warm water in the south and turns into a hurricane before hitting southern New England.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Matt Belk says it's best to get ready today.

"If you have loose items outside, don't let them become projectiles, you want to make sure you have enough water to last you three days, and if you need perishable items because you might not have power to cook with."

The National Weather Service also says there is a great deal of uncertainty with regard to Henri's track. The South Coast, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, and Cape Cod, however, should all prepare for strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surge.

Henri would be the first hurricane to hit New England in 30 years. Hurricane Bob caused a substantial amount of damage to Cape Cod in 1991.

Harbormasters around the region are urging boat owners to take necessary steps to protect their boats.

The Nantucket harbormaster will close the town pier on Saturday afternoon.

Meteorologist Matt Belk also says he's concerned we could experience a longer storm than what New Englanders are used to.

"Something where Henri comes up and it sits and spins for a while, dumping rain for 24 hours, which is very a-typical for a tropical cyclone which is what we typically see."

Local Emergency Management organizations are monitoring the storm closely and are urging residents to prepare.

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Stay tuned to CAI as we continue to cover Henri and its impact on the region.