R.I. warned of potential Sat. hurricane

Update, Aug. 28: Tropical Storm Danny now far weaker

PROVIDENCE – Forecasters this morning warned Rhode Island residents to keep an eye on the weather outlook as a potential hurricane picks up steam in the Atlantic Ocean.

Tropical Storm Danny is gathering strength about 550 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with top winds of near 60 miles per hour. It may strengthen into a hurricane as it travels north, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in an 11 a.m. update on the storm.

The center’s latest forecast for Danny would bring the storm through Southern New England sometime between 8 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday.

Separately, the local National Weather Service office in Taunton said that Danny may “pass very close to Nantucket late Saturday or Saturday night.”

However, the Taunton office also warned: “There is still a large amount of uncertainty in Danny’s strength and track. … The storm could have a direct impact on most of Southern New England, or could just as easily go completely out to sea.”

The R.I. Emergency Management Agency is advising residents to expect heavy rain and some coastal flooding on Saturday evening, and suggests cleaning and clearing gutters and storm drains, checking sump pumps and securing outdoor furniture.

“Although we were spared major impact from Hurricane Bill, Tropical Storm Danny does not look as kind,” the agency said on its Web site. “While it is still early in the forecast period, Tropical Storm Danny looks like it is more likely to have direct impacts on the Northeast.”

The agency said it will continue to monitor the storm and update residents as necessary.