With the start of the Hampton Classic Horse Show just nine days out and a city of 58 large tents already set up on the showgrounds in Bridgehampton in preparation for the show, organizers announced on Friday that they are taking down all the tents and horse stables as Hurricane Henri barrels toward the East End.
Winds and heavy seas from Hurricane Henri are expected to reach Long Island late Saturday, well before the storm itself makes landfall sometime on Sunday. The National Hurricane Center said that storm conditions on eastern Long Island were possible as early as 8 p.m. on Saturday with Henri's eye passing just east of Montauk Point at about 8 p.m. Sunday.
Tropical Storm Henri is expected to strengthen Saturday to hurricane force and begin affecting eastern Long Island late Saturday or early Sunday.
It was readily apparent that the day ahead was going to be a hot one, even if the 72-degree water of the incoming tide outside the nearby breakwater seemed cool to the touch.
