New York

Nor'easter Punishes Tri-State With Damaging Winds, Heavy Rain and Snow

Intense winds yanked off part of a roof in New Jersey, toppled trees and crippled air and road travel across the region

What to Know

  • A strong nor'easter that moved into the tri-state Sunday evening is forecast to bring heavy rain and strong winds into Tuesday morning
  • Around 1 to 3 inches of rain are expected in most of the tri-state; heavy snow is forecast in high-elevated areas NW of NY
  • Powerful winds are forecast to gust up to 60 mph along the coasts; a high wind warning is in effect for NYC, Long Island, parts of NJ and CT

The front end of a powerful nor'easter brought hurricane-force gusts and punishing rain was plaguing the tri-state with intense winds -- ripping parts of roofs from buildings, toppling trees, suspending rail lines and delaying air travel.

New York City, Long Island and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut were under a slew of weather advisories, watches and warnings. See the latest Storm Team 4 updates for your county and school closings.

Track the storm using our interactive radar. 

Winds howled across the region, churning sand along the Jersey Shore and parts of Long Island, where a downed utility pole prompted an LIRR suspension on the Port Washington Branch, and rattling windows of midtown skyscrapers. Gusts of nearly 45 mph were recorded in Central Park shortly after 10 a.m.

In New Jersey, an overhead wire problem on the Amtrak-run tracks near Linden suspended service on New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast lines at the outset of the evening rush. Service has since resumed, though the rail advises that customers will experience delays while passing through the Linden area. Newark's Penn Station was packed during the evening rush as a result of the backups and delays. 

NJ Transit buses and private carriers are still cross-honoring tickets, as well as PATH trains. Check NJ Transit's website for the latest updates. 

Amtrak also temporarily suspended service on its Northeast Regional and Acela Express trains traveling in New Jersey because of the downed wires. It has since been restored. 

Some of the NJ Transit tracks in Hoboken Terminal flooded during high tide, but the water receded by evening. It didn't affect train service, officials say. 

Elsewhere in New Jersey, winds pulled off part of a roof in Long Branch, and a 40-foot tree fell onto a home in West Orange, taking down power lines and piercing at least part of the roof. No one was hurt. In downtown Jersey City, a scaffolding swung off and away from a building at 15 Exchange Place; firefighters secured it, and there were no injuries, city officials said. 

Heavy winds in Jersey City Monday tossed around a hanging scaffolding around, banging it against a building. Credit: Bruno Boni Oliveira

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By late afternoon, utility companies were reporting thousands of power outages, particularly on Long Island and in New Jersey. In New York City, several hundred customers were without power in Marine Park, Brooklyn, according to Con Edison. 

Rainfall and wind gusts strengthened into the evening, with gusts of more than 60 mph possible along the coast, Storm Team 4 says, causing debris to fly and turned improperly secured objects into potential projectiles. Throughout the afternoon, the FDNY responded to reports debris falling from buildings and scaffoldings, including onto cars on East 18th Street and on East 123rd Street between 2nd and 3rd avenues in East Harlem. In lower Manhattan, part of a scaffold collapsed at 199 Church St., and the company responsible for maintaining it was issued a violation by the city's buildings department for failing to maintain the structure, the city said. 

New Yorkers Wrestle With Wind, Rain as Nor'easter Bears Down

Some train service was disrupted and that made for a complicated commute for some riders. Wale Aliyu reports.

Speed restrictions were implemented at some local bridges, including the Goethals and Outerbridge Crossing, as a precaution. 

Instagram users posted videos of intense winds to the social media site; one post showed a dog unable to walk straight against the gusts, its fur flying around it, and another showed a woman who couldn't keep her hair in check. 

While wind is the main story with this storm, it wasn't not the only problem. Wet, heavy snow fell on communities to the northwest of New York City Monday evening as rain, heavy at times, was drenching the city and its suburbs into Tuesday morning, Storm Team 4 says. Rain will be especially steady along the coasts of Long Island and New Jersey during this time period.

If you're flying, expect airport delays and cancellations. LaGuardia, Newark and JFK airports urged customers to check with their carriers before heading out. Some of the airports reported anticipated arrival delays of more than two hours, and dozens of flights were canceled ahead of the worst of the storm. The Port Authority said AirTrain service at Newark Airport, where wind gusts of 49 mph were noted by 1 p.m., would be suspended until further notice; AirTrain service at JFK Airport remains operational for the time being. 

Waves battered the New Jersey coast as a nor’easter approached. Brian Thompson Reports.

Gov. Cuomo advised against unnecessary travel. Power companies planned for outages and the Seastreak ferry canceled rides Monday between New York and New Jersey.

"As this storm could cause power outages across downstate and flooding for communities near the coastline, I am directing all relevant state agencies to be on alert and ready to respond to whatever Mother Nature throws our way," Cuomo said.

People prepared for possible flooding and other storm damage but did not evacuate. Greg Cergol reports.

On Tuesday, the winds will taper off and the day will be breezy and cloudy, with a few lingering showers, according to Storm Team 4. The weather improves rapidly on Wednesday with partly sunny skies and highs reaching 50 degrees. 

Residents of the Jersey Shore, still recovering from Sandy, are bracing for possible beach erosion as a nor’easter closes in. Brian Thompson reports.

What to know about this nor'easter:

• A high wind warning is in effect for all coastal counties — including the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties, as well as the eastern North Jersey and coastal Connecticut — from 1 a.m. Monday to 1 a.m. Tuesday. All other parts of the tri-state are under a high wind watch.

• Around 1 to 3 inches of rain is expected throughout the tri-state area, with state officials estimating as much as 3 to 4 inches in the Long Island and Hudson Valley areas. The tri-state area is under a flood watch from 1 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

• A coastal flood warning is in effect for Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, and a coastal flood advisory is in effect in the rest of the city and on the Jersey Shore overnight Sunday into Monday morning. A coastal flood watch is in effect for Nassau and Suffolk counties' south shores, as well as the forks of Long Island, for Monday afternoon and evening.

• A storm warning is in effect for all local waterways from 1 a.m. Monday until 1 a.m. Tuesday.

• A winter weather advisory is in effect for Dutchess, Putnam, Ulster, Orange and northern Passaic counties from 1 p.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday. A winter storm watch is in effect for Sullivan, Sussex and Pike counties during that time period.

• Expect high winds and significant beach erosion, coastal flooding during high tide cycles, and localized wind damage at the coastline.

• Wet, heavy snow is likely in higher-elevated areas, including Sullivan and Ulster counties in New York and Sussex County in New Jersey.

• Anticipate periods of heavy rain throughout the city Monday, particularly during the afternoon and evening, when wind gusts are expected to hit 60 mph.

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