It's coming in, watch your sixx ya'll and keep us posted!

BOSTON, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Hurricane Bill spun northward toward the New England coast Saturday with wind and rain.

Signs at Lighthouse Beach at Chatham, Massachusetts, warn beach-goers Saturday of rough waters.
1 of 3 At 2 p.m., the center of the Category 2 storm was about 370 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, the National Hurricane Center said. Forecasters said the island can expect 1 to 2 inches of rain, and Outer Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard may receive only an inch.

The storm continued its northerly pace of 23 mph. A gradual change to the north-northeast is predicted for Sunday. Bill's sustained winds remained at 100 mph, with higher gusts.

A gradual weakening is expected Saturday night and Sunday as the hurricane moves north of the Gulf Stream, a swift, warm Atlantic Ocean current.
The core of the storm should pass New England offshore Saturday night and approach the Canadian province of Nova Scotia on Sunday.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said tropical storm-force winds from the outer bands of the storm were forecast to hit his state at 9 p.m. ET, earlier than expected. Tropical storm winds range from 39 mph to 73 mph. iReport.com: Are you bracing for Hurricane Bill?

A tropical storm warning was issued for the coast of Massachusetts from Woods Hole to Sagamore Beach, including the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

The hurricane itself is to stay offshore, the hurricane center said.

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The most intense period of the storm should be between midnight and the predawn hours of Sunday, the governor told reporters in a conference call.

Patrick cautioned boaters to expect high seas and to avoid the area around Cape Cod. Forecasters have warned of dangerous riptides along the New England coast and points north.

"Waters will be unsafe even for strong swimmers," the governor warned.

Rip currents, or riptides, are strong seaward flows of water that occur where there's a break in the shoreline. They are difficult to detect. Watch CNN's Bonnie Schneider talk about rip currents »

Patrick said advisories will be posted, and beaches on the cape were closed. He urged residents to stay home.

President Obama and his family are scheduled to arrive Sunday for a vacation at Martha's Vineyard.

"We look forward to welcoming him to Massachusetts as soon as he can safely get here," Patrick said. Watch the waves crash on Massachusetts beach »

The Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services Department ordered red flags be flown to warn beach-goers of rough waters. While the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service closed the oceanfront for the weekend, Captain Tom Gill said Saturday that only a select few would be allowed in the water.

"Surfers are allowed to go in as long as they have a lot of knowledge. If we see a beginner out there we will warn them it's probably not the best time to be out there right now," Gill said.

Hurricane Bill skirted Bermuda, leaving rain in its wake. The tropical storm warning for Bermuda was discontinued.

Canada's weather service, Environment Canada, issued tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches for parts of Nova Scotia. Watch how Nova Scotians are preparing for Bill »

A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 24 hours. A watch means conditions are expected to change within 36 hours.

Total rain accumulations of 3 to 5 inches with isolated amounts of 7 inches are expected near the track of Bill across Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.


In New York, all beaches facing the Atlantic Ocean were closed "due to heavy, high waves and particularly heavy currents," New York City Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe said. iReport.com: Red flags line New York City beaches

"The lifeguards have a lot of experience with these ocean beaches and they just felt it was really too difficult to keep swimmers out of danger," Benepe said.

Thanks WC...It was crazy today!!! Tropical storms on and off all day. Bill should be a blast lol...I am sure we will go take some pics tomorrow at the beach.. We love a good storm

I hope eveyone is safe tho...Todays lightning was insane.. Wicked dangerous

No worries. Crazy MOFO that I be, I LOVE storms, the louder the thunder, the brighter the lightening, the harder the rain...all the better! Gives me all kinds of energy. Maybe it has something to do with the fact I am a double Pisces or something, a water sign?? Dunno, but I'z a likee!! Back in my Coast Guard days, we would be out on the Ocean doing Search and Rescue Ops during wicked storms and I would have this crazy grin on my face, lol.

hope you are all safe too!

This crab battened the hatches...nothing really awesome yet.. just dark and gusty.

I have not heard either one of you telling horror stories today, so I assume everything went ok?

Was steamy but manageable today, no rain yet. All good!

Good deal! Now send some of that weather thisaway, we needs itz bad!!

It was hot and def steamy..Got a downpour for about 30 minutes,,,was awesome..totally black sky The ocean storm is wots really going on here (new england),,,The waves were amazing from what I saw on the news,,,I didnt make it to the beach taday

SWEET!! I would have loved seeing and being in that storm!!

glad all of you are safe

LOL TY from WMA!!

That poor lil girl in Acadia National Park in Maine,,,She died bc her parents and others didnt heed the Rangers orders...So sad

A rogue wave crashed and swept a bunch of people in the water,,,Seven year old girl was killed

People really do need to respect Mother Nature,,,She aint messing around anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by Sydneyjean:
That poor lil girl in Acadia National Park in Maine,,,She died bc her parents and others didnt heed the Rangers orders...So sad

A rogue wave crashed and swept a bunch of people in the water,,,Seven year old girl was killed

People really do need to respect Mother Nature,,,She aint messing around anymore.

It's one thaaang for adults to thrill seek and not listen to professional advice, but to keep your young helpless child in that is negligence and I hope police look into that. Ya know?

Here we go again!!! Tropical storm/hurricane Danny.

They already closed our beaches and cancelled ferry services for the weekend..

Syd and Nina are gonna make me crazy with no beach in the forecast.