WESTPORT — Former hurricane Jose has taken a liking to waters south of New England and could deliver nearly a week of northeast gales to the area before he finally tires of it all.

The now-tropical storm moved slowly past the South Coast Monday through Wednesday and is now meandering its way back, still packing winds of nearly 70 mph near its center several hundred miles offshore.

Westport locked the gates at local beaches at the start of the week but that didn’t stop photographers, spectators and even a few surfers from taking in the big-wave spectacle on Wednesday.

More wind, waves and occasional showers are forecast through late week — and that’s before Hurricane Maria decides whether to pay a visit.