A powerful storm system is expected to strike the Northeast on Sunday, prompting flood and wind alerts as well as travel advisories as some areas brace for power outages and up to four inches of rain, forecasters said.
The National Weather Service in New York issued a flood watch for portions of southern Connecticut, northeast New Jersey and most of New York City and Long Island and parts of the Hudson Valley. The flood watch is in effect from Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon.
Forecasters said three to five inches of rain could fall across parts of Long Island and southern Connecticut, with six inches possible in some areas. Two to four inches of rainfall was most likely elsewhere, forecasters said, adding that most of the rain would fall in a 12-hour period
Winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour and gusts of 45 to 55 m.p.h. are expected along the coast on Sunday evening. A high wind warning was posted for Suffolk County and a wind advisory was in effect for Nassau County, Queens and Brooklyn.
Damaging wind gusts of up to 60 m.p.h. are likely in Suffolk County Sunday night, forecasters said. “Expect poorly secured outdoor objects to be damaged or blown away,” the National Weather Service said.
The combination of wind, rain and in some places snow in New York “could cause some dangerous issues for New Yorkers, including flooding, dangerous travel and power outages,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Friday.
“I urge all New Yorkers to prepare now and plan for the next couple of days as the forecast comes into clearer view,” she said.
The National Weather Service office in Albany posted winter storm warnings for parts of the North Country in New York and said accumulating snow was likely for Sunday night into Monday, making for difficult travel for the morning commute.
A Storm Prediction Center map showed winter storm warnings posted throughout Northern New York and into Vermont and storm warnings along the coast from Long Island north to Maine.
Emergency management officials in New York City issued a travel advisory for Sunday and Monday.
Flooding could lead to traffic disruptions and delays. Officials asked New Yorkers to exercise caution when traveling, allow for extra travel time and consider using public transportation.
“Everyone should take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their belongings in the event of potential flooding conditions in low-lying areas,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.
The storm comes weeks after record-breaking rains in September overwhelmed New York City’s subway system, grounded flights and flooded streets.
There were no storm-related fatalities then, but emergency teams made 28 rescues from “raging waters” in the Hudson Valley and Long Island, according to Ms. Hochul.
Elsewhere in the Northeast, the Philadelphia/Mount Holly Weather Forecast Office warned of high winds that could topple trees and power lines. “Precautions should be taken for any outdoor holiday decorations,” it said.
A flood watch was in effect from 1 p.m. Sunday through 4 p.m. Monday in New Jersey, Delaware and parts of Pennsylvania. The forecast called for two to three inches of rain from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning.
The Northeast was not the only part of the United States to experience severe weather this weekend. On Saturday, officials said six people were killed and more than 20 hurt after powerful storms blew through parts of Tennessee. Tornado watches and warnings as well as severe thunderstorm warnings were posted throughout the South.