East End residents hunkered down Tuesday evening as Jose hovered in the Atlantic Ocean.

Mostly, the storm sent wind-driven rain and rough surf, and Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter said the main hazards from Jose would be flooding and beach erosion.

"It's scary it's that strong," said Robert Nelson, of Riverhead. "You can't compete with Mother Nature."

The National Weather Service issued various coastal flood warnings and tropical storm watches for parts of both counties, but the storm's greatest impact may have been out east. It downgraded Jose to a tropical storm with top winds speeds of about 70 mph late Tuesday night.

In downtown Riverhead, business along Main Street was slow was residents worried about water overflowing from the Peconic River.

The storm prompted groups of weather watchers to head to closed beaches and watch the large waves Jose sent crashing into the shore.

"I'm glad I'm not out there on a boat, but it is impressive to see the force that nature has," said Al Danza, of Hampton Bays. 

"This ain't anything yet," said 82-year-old Ed Meier, who was watching the waves at Wading River Beach on the North Shore. "This isn't really rough yet. Maybe later."

In Wading River, residents along Creek Road were keeping a wary eye on the sandy bluffs that protect their homes from storm surges.

"If you don't have these dunes here, the water can just come right up into the homes," said Steve Shapiro, a resident there. 

So far, the 2017 hurricane season has been unusually active in the Atlantic Ocean. Danza said he hopes it's not the "beginning of a trend that gets worse and worse." 

TRACKING JOSE: Tropical Tracker | Weather Center | Local Radar | Watch News 12