Newtown is seeing rain this afternoon, and it is much lighter than had been predicted even 24 hours ago ahead of Tropical Storm Henri.

The National Weather Service has downgraded the storm from hurricane level to tropical storm level. Newtown remains under a Tropical Storm Warning “until further notice,” the weather service continues to state. Precautions in place, it does appear the storm is much less extreme than expected.

Public Works crews have been on standby for hours, many since 2 am. A loader has reportedly been staged at each of the town’s firehouses, should the need to move trees arise.

As of early afternoon the weather service (NWS) said tropical storm conditions are still possible for Newtown, with showers and possibly a thunderstorm this afternoon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall.

New rainfall amounts of between 1 and 2 inches are possible.

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm are also expected for tonight, also according to the weather service. Breezy west winds of 13-21 mph “becoming south after midnight” are expected, along with gusts as high as 32 mph.

While some of that activity could also produce heavy rainfall, NWS says no more than 2 additional inches of precipitation is expected during the overnight hours.

There could be limited damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes, NWS stated late Sunday morning.

Trees could snap or be uprooted, in greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted, the pre-noon statement also noted.

By early Sunday afternoon, only an occasional call for service was being recorded. Around 2:30, a Newtown police officer responded to a report of a downed tree on Bennetts Bridge Road near its intersection with Jeremiah. The officer found one lane of Bennetts Bridge to be blocked, and called for on-call Highway to send one employee with a chainsaw to clear the wood.

Scattered power and communication outages are possible, NWS also reiterated on Sunday. Newtown First Selectman Dan Rosenthal on Friday night reminded residents to keep all electronics charged ahead of those possibilities.

The storm itself is still strong, however, with data from an Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft, NOAA Doppler weather radars, and surface observations indicating that the center of Tropical Storm Henri made landfall along the coast of Rhode Island near Westerly at approximately 12:15 pm. At the

time of landfall, maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 60 mph, NWS announced at 12:30.

A Weatherflow station near Point Judith, R.I., measured a sustained wind of 57 mph and a gust to 70 mph around that same time. The center of Henri passed over Block Island, R.I., around 11 am.

The eye and cone of the storm have moved west of Newtown. The National Weather Service reminds the public that rain and winds can still occur outside the cone, however.

Newtown Notes

Newtown Community Center closed today at noon.

Edmond Town Hall also closed at noon. The annual Mary Hawley Birthday Observation Open House and all of today’s movie screenings have been canceled.

The afternoon’s matinee performance of The Elephant Man has also been canceled.

All Newtown parks, fields and swimming locations are closed for the day due to the weather.

State Notes

While Newtown is further north and west of Henri’s latest path, other areas of the state will feel the storm.

The southern portion of Connecticut is preparing for a harder hit from Henri than the northern areas. With that in mind, Governor Ned Lamont on Saturday announced a travel ban on all empty tractor trailers, tandem tractor trailers, and motorcycles on Interstate 95. That ban went into effect at 11 am on Sunday, until further notice.

“During peak periods of the storm, the heavy rain and strong wings will make travel unsafe, particularly along the coast in the area of I-95,” Lamont said. “I encourage everyone to stay off the roads on Sunday and into Monday morning to the greatest extent possible.”

In addition to the travel ban on I-95, Governor Ned Lamont on Saturday called for 200 members of the Connecticut National Guard to active duty, to prepare teams and specialized equipment in support of the state’s response to the storm.

The governor also on Saturday proclaimed that a state of civil preparedness exists across the state.

Lamont also authorized utility company restoration vehicles to travel on the Merritt Parkway and Wilbur Cross Parkway to help expedite potential power restoration from the storm. This order is went into effect at 8 am on Sunday and will remain in effect until 8 pm Thursday, August 26.

The Department of Motor Vehicle has also issued an emergency order, increasing the weight limits for trucks carrying brush and storm debris to help expedite the access to and removal of trees for power line repairs. This order is in effect through Saturday, September 4.

The DMV also issued an order granting a limited exemption providing motor carriers with relief from limits on drivers’ hours of service while they are providing direct assistance through the delivery of gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, biodiesel, and propane to homes and businesses during the emergency in connection with the storm. This order is also in effect through Thursday, August 26.

AG Tong: Be Vigilant For Scams

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is warning Connecticut consumers to be vigilant of price gouging and price hikes.

During states of emergency, price gouging is illegal, the state official reminded residents this weekend. This includes in demand items such as generators and gas.

“Price gougers take advantage of our fear,” Tong said Saturday, August 21.” We’re all worried about losing power for days on end, damage to our property and the health and safety of our loved ones.

“Don’t let these predatory bad actors profit off your panic. We will not tolerate any profiteering off this emergency and any Connecticut consumers who observe price gouging should report it immediately to my office,” he added.

Anyone who suspects price gouging should file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General online at dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint/.

Consumers are encouraged to file their complaints online and list accurate information about the company, retail store or online vendor where the suspected instance of price gouging occurred. In the complaint, consumers should list the name and address of the retailer, the date and time of the instance, and also submit any pictures that show the suspected price hike.

If consumers are unable to file a complaint online or via email, they can call the Office of the Attorney General at 860-808-5318.

During civil preparedness and public health emergencies, price gouging is against Connecticut law. Price gouging or profiteering means increasing the price of an item for sale at retail by more than could be justified in the ordinary course of business market fluctuations.

Acting in coordination with the Department of Consumer Protection, the Office of the Attorney General may file suit against price gougers and seek appropriate relief, including injunctive terms, restraining orders, restitution, and civil financial penalties designed to deter future unscrupulous sales.

The AG’s office did note that not every price increase is price gouging. In many cases, retailers are being charged higher than normal prices from their suppliers and wholesalers and these retailers are adding a small markup on products. When they do that, it is not price gouging.

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Associate Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.