Jose downgraded to post-tropical storm

Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Jose was downgraded to a post-tropical storm Thursday night, but parts of the New England area can still expect tropical storm-like conditions in the coming days.

The National Hurricane Center said in its 2 a.m. advisory that Jose was located about 135 miles southeast of Nantucket, Mass., with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

It was moving west at a pace of only 2 mph.

"Little motion is expected for the next 48 hours, and Jose is forecast to meander well offshore of the coast of southeastern New England during," the NHC said.

A tropical storm warning was in effect Thursday morning for Woods Hole to Sagamore Beach, including Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, all in Massachusetts, and Block Island, R.I.

Tropical storm conditions were expected to occur in the warning area Thursday, but the storm was not expected to make landfall.

The advisory said Jose is "a large system" with tropical storm force winds extending outward about 230 miles from the storm.

A gust of 48 mph was reported at Nantucket Airport on Thursday, while an unofficial observing site in Vineyard Haven, on Martha's Vineyard, reported a sustained wind of 39 mph and a maximum gust of 52 mph.

"Swells generated by Jose are affecting Bermuda and much of the U.S. east coast and will likely cause dangerous surf and rip current conditions during the next few days," the advisory said.

Between 1 and 4 inches of rain are expected along the New England coast.