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Hurricane Bill Spins Past New England

By JASON BRONIS

posted: 4 HOURS 34 MINUTES AGO

comments: 89

filed under: Hurricane News, National News, Weather News

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EDGARTOWN, Mass. (Aug. 23) - Hurricane Bill taunted the New England coastline from a distance Sunday, after closing beaches and setting off a string of safety warnings for weekend boaters, swimmers and surfers along the eastern seaboard.

President Barack Obama took no chances and planned a later arrival for his family vacation at Martha's Vineyard, which remained under a tropical storm warning early Sunday.

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The Atlantic Season's First Hurricane

Hurricane Bill stayed off shore after deteriorating to a Category 1 storm, but still sent powerful waves to pound the East Coast, particularly Massachusetts. The storm is expected to approach Newfoundland Sunday night. Here, surfers look out at rough waters at the Ventnor fishing pier in Atlantic City, N.J., Saturday.

Anthony Smedile, The Press of Atlantic City / AP

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Also See: Check Out Hurricane's Location and Projected Path

Forecasters said that the hurricane was moving away from the New England coast offshore and closer to Nova Scotia, and was expected to approach Newfoundland by Sunday night. By early Sunday, it was about 275 miles south-southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and about 185 miles east of Nantucket, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for the Massachusetts' coastline and a storm warning covered Nova Scotia's Atlantic coast.

Even as it weakened to a Category 1 hurricane Saturday, the tempest churned up rough seas and dangerous rip tides.

In Nova Scotia, provincial parks were shut down and people were advised to stay clear of beaches.

"The waves, they're very pretty to look at but very dangerous," said Barry Manuel of the Halifax Emergency Management Office.

By early Sunday, the storm had maximum sustained winds near 85 mph and was moving 26 mph in a north-northeast direction.

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The Obamas delayed their planned Sunday morning departure from Andrews Air Force Base to Sunday mid-afternoon because of the weather, White House aides said. The worst of Bill was expected to pass east of Martha's Vineyard before the Obamas arrival.

As plans changed Saturday for the first family, nearly all south-facing beaches on the island were closed to swimmers and large signs blocked roadways to shorefronts. Lifeguards used caution tape to rope off access points, and police patrolled the beach to enforce the closings.

"The concern we have now is that the riptides are very strong," said lifeguard James Costantini. "There's a very strong undertow."

But longtime Vineyard vacationer Jack DeCoste, 69, of Plymouth, Mass., was unimpressed with the storm as he lounged in a beach chair in Edgartown.

"I don't think it's going to impact things that much," DeCoste said. "I think it'll be in and out of here fairly quickly."

At Robert Moses State Park in New York, the beach was shut down as the high tide submerged the sand, though the beach opened later for sunbathing. Along some beaches in Delaware and New Jersey, no swimming was allowed.

"It's just too dangerous right now," Rehoboth Beach Patrol Capt. Kent Buckson said.

The same high waves that worried safety officials, however, had surfers buzzing.

In Atlantic City, N.J., surfers gathered Saturday on beaches where 20-foot waves were expected. But only a few were willing to take their boards into the big swells.

Atlantic City Beach Patrol Chief Rod Aluise told The Press of Atlantic City that some surfers just stood on the beach "with their eyes popping out" at the size of the waves.

"This is only for experienced surfers," Aluise said.

The stormy conditions were expected to last through the weekend.

"It takes a while for the ocean to relax" after strong storms, said Gary Conte, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "Until it does, riptides will make dangerous sport" for surfers and swimmers.

Hurricane Bill moved past Bermuda earlier Saturday, leaving behind sunny skies, debris and flooding, but no casualties. The storm cut power to about 3,700 customers and flooded some roads. All ferry service was canceled until Sunday.

Meanwhile, forecasters said Sunday that Tropical Storm Hilda had strengthened slightly far out in the Pacific but was not threatening land. It had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was about 2,025 miles west-southwest of the tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, and 1,125 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.

Associated Press Writers Bruce Shipkowski in Trenton, N.J.; Karen Testa in Hull, Mass.; Jay Lindsay in Boston; Jennifer Peltz in New York; Amanda Dale in Hamilton, Bermuda; Rob Gillies in Toronto and Gillian Gaynair in Washington contributed to this report.

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Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2009-08-23 07:21:15

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AP U.S. NewsBrief at 12:29 p.m. EDT
54 minutes ago
Hurricane Bill breezing past New England shores
56 minutes ago
Tropical weather gets busy, expected to strengthen
7 days ago

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Pawsvacationcare

01:23 PMAug 23 2009

How can RepubLIE-KKK-CON fake "Christians" keep calling themselves Christian when they refuse to vote for healthcare for the poor? Jesus called and he is embarrassed by the fake "Christian" racists who are 100% about themselves and being totally selfish. Quite Anti-Christian don't you think.

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haf67

01:22 PMAug 23 2009

WWW.NIGGERMANIA.COM

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Pawsvacationcare

01:21 PMAug 23 2009

Have a great vacation, Mr. President! You deserve it. I love that President Ob-Awesome is so hardworking, honest and intelligent. What a great change! Keep up the great work and thanks for making USA respectable again.

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RMaro17921

01:15 PMAug 23 2009

Doctor Peter Wong http://www.oclisucks.com/ http://www.drpeterwongsucks.comhttp://www.ophthalmicconsultantsoflongisl and.com/

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SMBURWICK

01:06 PMAug 23 2009

WWeronko: What difference does it make whether or not Bush took a vacation. That was then, and this is now. I think BO has charged in $$$$ to this country in bringing him to France, England, Italy, Moscow, Grand Canyon, and Martha's Vineyard. Never loved Bush, but you koolaid drinking moonbats are probably being paid by Rahm Emanuel to write your shit!

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MrMorn2

01:03 PMAug 23 2009

This storm was devastating to the New England coast line!! With all the 3 foot waves washing ashore and all!! Call in FEMA for help!!!!

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SMBURWICK

01:01 PMAug 23 2009

Jmvic123exit:Greed, you call Republicans greedy? NO I think the democraps are the most corrupt, greedy, hypocritical, manipulators ever. They are wolves in sheeps clothing. Every single one of them has been an opportunist and viscious liar. This party should be renamed: Socialist/progressives/marxists.

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12:59 PMAug 23 2009

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Cyndal77

12:59 PMAug 23 2009

Stevewnc4 12:50 PMAug 23 2009 Hate filled fake Christian wackadoos. Obama took office and no hurricanes all year. Does this mean God doesn't hate Obama and maybe you're just a Satanic tool? Not only that but God had this cat 4 storm off the coast during Gay Pride Week when there were all kinds of Gay Pride Parades going on and he chose not to punish any of them. Does God love Gay people now too?..........................I am always amazed at you Liberal HYPOCRITES, look at the hate you just spewed, it is only hateful to you Liberals when it involves a Christian or a Conservative...That is what is making people wake up to your Nobama! Wake up blind sheep!

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Stevewnc4

12:50 PMAug 23 2009

Hate filled fake Christian wackadoos. Obama took office and no hurricanes all year. Does this mean God doesn't hate Obama and maybe you're just a Satanic tool? Not only that but God had this cat 4 storm off the coast during Gay Pride Week when there were all kinds of Gay Pride Parades going on and he chose not to punish any of them. Does God love Gay people now too?

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