SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — What began as Tropical Storm Hermine was upgraded to hurricane status on Thursday afternoon as the storm began to bear down on Florida.
Based on the latest forecast by the National Weather Service’s Gray office, the storm is expected to barrel its way up the eastern seacoast and begin affecting New England waters over Labor Day weekend.
While it was not yet clear Thursday what the storm’s path ultimately will be, the National Weather Service in Gray said Mainers could expect dry weather through Sunday. It added that seas were expected to rise beginning Sunday afternoon, bringing an increased rip current threat for beachgoers.
Rain is expected to arrive on Sunday night and could continue into Tuesday as moisture from Hermine spreads northward, the weather service said.
U.S. Coast Guard officials urged mariners to exercise caution and make preparations in advance of heavy weather.
“This storm should catch no one by surprise. We have time to prepare,” Lt. Scott McCann, command center chief at Coast Guard Sector Northern New England, said Thursday.
“The most prudent thing would be not to go out, but if you do, make sure you are prepared,” McCann said, later adding, “Everything that we respond to is preventable.”
The Coast Guard on Thursday offered several safety recommendations in advance of the potential wild, wet weather.
All mariners should secure their boats and boating equipment, McCann said.
Smaller vessels and paddlecraft, such as kayaks and canoes, should be pulled from the water, stored in a protected place and labeled with contact information.
That way, McCann said, an unmanned canoe or kayak that breaks free from its mooring won’t trigger an unnecessary search that could draw valuable resources from a real emergency.
The owners of larger boats should make sure bilge pumps are operational, even if the vessel is moored, McCann said.
Those who do venture out on the water also should file a float plan with family or friends that includes details about their trip.
“Tell someone where you are going, what you are going in and when you expect to be back,” McCann said.
The Coast Guard has a downloadable float plan form on its website.
Boaters also should stay informed about currents and expected weather and water conditions before heading out and be aware that weather conditions can quickly change, he said.
And perhaps as important is that boaters wear life jackets while on the water as that has proven to save lives, McCann said.
Those who do venture out should have multiple means of communication, especially a VHF radio, which alerts fellow mariners and the Coast Guard of any problem encountered while out at sea.
While not legally required for smaller boats, McCann said, VHF radios can be purchased for about $60.
Other means include fully charged cellphones, satellite phones, emergency position indicating radio beacons and personal locator beacons, McCann said.
The Coast Guard will team up with the National Weather Service and the Maine Marine Patrol for a safety briefing at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Coast Guard Sector Northern New England in South Portland, McCann said.
McCann also noted that the Coast Guard has a free safety app for smart phones that offers boating information by state and a safety checklist as well as mechanisms for requesting a safety check, filling out a float plan, reporting hazards, pollution and suspicious activity and requesting emergency assistance.
For more information on other boating safety resources, visit www.uscgboating.org.