As Hurricane Irene closes in on Long Island, the region has an additional fear: Tornado watch.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for Nassau and Suffolk counties until 5 a.m. Sunday. That's on top of the hurricane warning and flood watch for the region.
The National Hurricane Center's 7 p.m. Saturday update lists Irene as a Category 1 storm with 80 mph winds. The storm's center is 35 miles southeast of Norfolk, Va. as it heads up the East Coast -- just 315 miles from New York City.
RELATED: Follow Patch live blogs on the storm from the , and .
The NWS calls for Long Island to see outer bands of the storm later Saturday with torrential rain and strengthening winds coming overnight and into Sunday.
A coastal flood hazard has also been issued by the NWS for communities along the Long Island Sound and Atlantic Coastline, calling it a moderate flood zone. Nassau and Suffolk are listed as moderate inland flood hazards.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Thursday. It produced a cascade of emergency measures, including:
- The MTA for buses, subways and trains at noon Saturday.
- Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announced a for all residents living south of Sunrise Highway, from the Queens line to Rockville Centre and south of Merrick Road, from Rockville Centre to the Nassau-Suffolk border. All those residing in these areas must evacuate by 5 p.m. Saturday.
- North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman said low-lying areas and storm surge zones , including parts of Manorhaven, Manhasset Isle, Port Washington North and residents that live along Shore Road along Manhasset Bay.
- Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko announced a effective 8 a.m. Saturday for those who reside in the town's South Shore flood zones, from Center Moriches toPatchogue.
- of low-lying areas south ofMontauk Highway will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday.
- began 3 p.m. Friday.
- Asharoken Mayor Patricia Irving has urged residents to .
- East Hampton Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson officially declared a on Saturday.
- began mandatory evacuations of low-lying areas at 10 a.m. Saturday.
- will officially be in a state of emergency beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday, according to Mayor David Nyce.
According to NOAA models, Long Island faces up to an 100 percent probability of seeing tropical storm-force winds up to 74 mph. The model also shows the Island has a 10 percent chance of facing hurricane force winds.
