Powerful Ocean Storm Heads Toward New England

Damaging winds and heavy rain are expected for eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island Saturday, as the remnants of hurricane Noel evolves into a strong coastal storm.

The National Weather Service issued a high wind watch for the central and eastern sections of Massachusetts. The advisory is in effect from Saturday morning until Saturday evening. The greatest threat for damaging winds is for Cape Cod and the islands, Storm Team 5 meteorologist Harvey Leonard predicted.

Graphics: Tracking Saturday Nor'easter

Winds could gust up to 60 mph along the coast. "A few gusts of hurricane force cannot be ruled out, especially on Cape Cod," Leonard forecast.

Rainfall amounts could reach 2-3 inches along the coast, Leonard said, particularly over southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod, resulting in some localized flooding in poor drainage areas.

He advised that storm drains be cleared out before the storm.

As Noel moved through the Carribean Thursday, it drenched the Bahamas and Cuba while rescue workers in the Dominican Republic headed out in boats and helicopters to reach dozens of communities isolated by floods and mudslides.

The storm brought a record 15 inches of rain to the Bahamas. Nassau International Airport closed but was expected to reopen Friday. Only one of 10 cruise ships arrived on schedule.

The death toll in the Caribbean rose to 107, making Noel the deadliest storm of the Atlantic region this year.