New York

Punishing Winds Down Power Lines Across Tri-State; Torrential Rain May Cause Flooding in Spots

What to Know

  • Vicious winds tore down power lines and restaurant awnings early Tuesday morning, and gusts of up to 50 mph were expected through the day
  • 2 inches of rain or more fell on much of the region, bringing the potential for flash flooding and other problems
  • The worst weather was during the afternoon, and Storm Team 4 urged special caution for the evening commute

A cold front stiff-armed its way across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, bringing punishing rains and howling winds on what turned out to be a miserable Tuesday for much of the tri-state. 

Gusts of up to 50 mph were recorded in parts of the region; by early morning, JFK Airport had recorded gusts of 40 mph. In Leonia, New Jersey, the raging gusts tore down power lines at Fort Lee Road and Glenwood Avenue, forcing at least one school to call a delayed opening. And in Red Hook, a DNAinfo reporter tweeted an image of the Brooklyn Crab's large awnings twisted off in a heap. 

Power lines came down across a number of towns in New Jersey. In Middletown, yellow caution tape blocked off a cul-de-sac as firefighters huddled near damaged wires. It didn't appear to be raining much, but video from the scene showed police tape flapping madly amid the gusts. In Ramsey, a power outage at Smith School forced officials to call a half-day schedule.

A high wind advisory is in effect through 2 a.m. Wednesday, and drivers on the George Washington Bridge were advised to take it slow. Forecasters say Halloween decorations should be brought inside or they'll likely be whisked away. The bad weather was causing delays at area airports throughout the day.

Heavy rain inundated much of the region at varying points Tuesday, leading to the threat of localized or flash flooding. The worst weather hit in the afternoon, making for a messy evening commute. (Get up-to-the-minute weather alerts here.)

The rain tapered off late in the night. Some showers may linger early Wednesday. Parts of Suffolk County, including Northeastern, Northwestern, Southeastern, Southwestern parts, are under a flash flood watch until 10 a.m. Wednesday.

However, a drier, more pleasant afternoon is anticipated for the tri-state with temperatures cooling into the mid 60s after an unseasonably warm stretch. Temperatures on Thursday will drop to their lowest point for the week, with Storm Team 4 forecasting a high of 62 degrees.

An abundance of sunshine will return Friday, which could make way for an enjoyable weekend with a chance for some stray showers again on Sunday.

Halloween next week is expected to see more seasonable conditions. 

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