Long Island weather: Heavy rain, strong winds Wednesday; flight delays growing
Long Islanders are facing a second round of heavy rain and strong, potentially damaging winds as a fierce storm overtakes the region Wednesday.
The rain is expected to become more intense this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
Radar maps for the Long Island and metropolitan areas show severe storms for all of Long Island that will last through late afternoon.
The heaviest rain is forecast to move over Brookhaven about 4 p.m. and continue to move over Riverhead and eastern Long Island through the evening, according to the radar. The forecast calls for another inch of rain over the region.
Nassau and Suffolk counties are under a high wind warning through 10 p.m., forecasters said. Sustained southerly winds of 20 to 35 mph, with gusts of up to 60 mph were expected for most of Long Island, with the heaviest period coming during midafternoon.
Long Island was expected to get 2 to 2½ inches of rain Wednesday — with heavier amounts farther east on Suffolk's Twin Forks. Nassau and New York City could see 2 inches of rain.
The weather service said damaging winds could blow down numerous tree limbs, as well as scattered trees and power lines. Power outages are likely in some areas. Holiday decorations will be blown around. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles, the weather service warned.
PSEG Long Island officials they said they are prepared to restore power outages with the strongest wind gusts forecast on the East End.
"PSEG Long Island has been monitoring this storm, and we are prepared for potential impacts on the system," said Michael Sullivan, vice president of PSEG Long Island's electric operations. "We have performed system and logistic checks, and have a full complement of personnel who will mobilize for restoration in foul weather conditions."
There were no major delays reported on the Long Island Rail Road.
Long Islanders were on their way to work or play, as usual, Wednesday.
Kathleen Augie-Merola, 65, waited with her husband at the Massapequa Park train station, sheltered from a light drizzle.
The Massapequa Park couple was headed to see The Radio City Rockettes' "Christmas Spectacular" in Manhattan. They bought the tickets a month ago and hoped the weather would clear up later in the day.
"We’re going into Radio City to see the Rockettes on a beautiful, rainy day," Kathleen said, adding that they had hoped to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
Almas Hossain, 19, headed to classes at Stony Brook University, said the weather caused some traffic on her way to the train station.
"I personally think it’s nice weather to sleep inside, not go outside," said the computer engineering major.
No unusual delays were reported on Long Island roads and highways during Wednesday morning's commute.
Flooding was reported on the westbound LIE HOV lane near Exit 55. A stalled car was reported on the Northern State Parkway near Route 110, and a downed tree closed Route 25A in Huntington east of Lawrence Hill Road, authorities said.
Forecasters said the afternoon commute could be difficult.
The Long Island Rail Road was operating normally through the morning Wednesday.
PSEG Long Island was showing only a handful of outages Wednesday morning. In a statement to customers Tuesday, the utility said it was prepared for the storm and had personnel available to respond quickly if problems occur.
The rain and the unsettled weather across the East Coast was causing problems at airports.
According to FlightAware, there were 55 delays at Kennedy Airport and nine cancellations as of 10 a.m., numbers that grew throughout the morning.
The flight tracking site also reported 19 delays and three cancellations at LaGuardia.
There was one cancellation at Long Island MacArthur Airport, according to a spokesperson.
The MTA, citing high winds on the upper East River, banned empty tractor trailers and tandem trailers from the Bronx-Whitestone, Throgs Neck and RFK bridges in both directions until 6 p.m.
The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry was operating on schedule. If conditions become unsafe, the captain will cancel a voyage, a spokesperson said. Gale force winds were forecast for Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island.
Given the forecast, NICE Bus (Nassau Inter-County Express) issued a statement Tuesday, advising riders to check in advance for potential delays and leave extra time for travel.
Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin said crews have been cleaning out storm drains since Sunday in preparation for this week’s rain.
"You really are going from one extreme to the other, literally in a 48-hour period of drought conditions to flooding," Clavin said. "We want to make it that the water can get off the streets and into the sewers, rather than back up on these streets and into your houses."
Clavin encouraged residents to secure any holiday decorations or even take them down if possible.
"These blowups are going to blow off your property if you do not tie them down or deflate them for the evening," he said. "Your decorations today may be your neighbors tomorrow if you don't take them down."
Check back for updates on this developing story.
With Brianne Ledda and John Asbury
Long Islanders are facing a second round of heavy rain and strong, potentially damaging winds as a fierce storm overtakes the region Wednesday.
The rain is expected to become more intense this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
Radar maps for the Long Island and metropolitan areas show severe storms for all of Long Island that will last through late afternoon.
The heaviest rain is forecast to move over Brookhaven about 4 p.m. and continue to move over Riverhead and eastern Long Island through the evening, according to the radar. The forecast calls for another inch of rain over the region.
Nassau and Suffolk counties are under a high wind warning through 10 p.m., forecasters said. Sustained southerly winds of 20 to 35 mph, with gusts of up to 60 mph were expected for most of Long Island, with the heaviest period coming during midafternoon.
Long Island was expected to get 2 to 2½ inches of rain Wednesday — with heavier amounts farther east on Suffolk's Twin Forks. Nassau and New York City could see 2 inches of rain.
The weather service said damaging winds could blow down numerous tree limbs, as well as scattered trees and power lines. Power outages are likely in some areas. Holiday decorations will be blown around. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles, the weather service warned.
PSEG Long Island officials they said they are prepared to restore power outages with the strongest wind gusts forecast on the East End.
"PSEG Long Island has been monitoring this storm, and we are prepared for potential impacts on the system," said Michael Sullivan, vice president of PSEG Long Island's electric operations. "We have performed system and logistic checks, and have a full complement of personnel who will mobilize for restoration in foul weather conditions."
There were no major delays reported on the Long Island Rail Road.
Long Islanders were on their way to work or play, as usual, Wednesday.
Kathleen Augie-Merola, 65, waited with her husband at the Massapequa Park train station, sheltered from a light drizzle.
The Massapequa Park couple was headed to see The Radio City Rockettes' "Christmas Spectacular" in Manhattan. They bought the tickets a month ago and hoped the weather would clear up later in the day.
"We’re going into Radio City to see the Rockettes on a beautiful, rainy day," Kathleen said, adding that they had hoped to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
Almas Hossain, 19, headed to classes at Stony Brook University, said the weather caused some traffic on her way to the train station.
"I personally think it’s nice weather to sleep inside, not go outside," said the computer engineering major.
No unusual delays were reported on Long Island roads and highways during Wednesday morning's commute.
Flooding was reported on the westbound LIE HOV lane near Exit 55. A stalled car was reported on the Northern State Parkway near Route 110, and a downed tree closed Route 25A in Huntington east of Lawrence Hill Road, authorities said.
Forecasters said the afternoon commute could be difficult.
The Long Island Rail Road was operating normally through the morning Wednesday.
PSEG Long Island was showing only a handful of outages Wednesday morning. In a statement to customers Tuesday, the utility said it was prepared for the storm and had personnel available to respond quickly if problems occur.
The rain and the unsettled weather across the East Coast was causing problems at airports.
According to FlightAware, there were 55 delays at Kennedy Airport and nine cancellations as of 10 a.m., numbers that grew throughout the morning.
The flight tracking site also reported 19 delays and three cancellations at LaGuardia.
There was one cancellation at Long Island MacArthur Airport, according to a spokesperson.
The MTA, citing high winds on the upper East River, banned empty tractor trailers and tandem trailers from the Bronx-Whitestone, Throgs Neck and RFK bridges in both directions until 6 p.m.
The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry was operating on schedule. If conditions become unsafe, the captain will cancel a voyage, a spokesperson said. Gale force winds were forecast for Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island.
Given the forecast, NICE Bus (Nassau Inter-County Express) issued a statement Tuesday, advising riders to check in advance for potential delays and leave extra time for travel.
Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin said crews have been cleaning out storm drains since Sunday in preparation for this week’s rain.
"You really are going from one extreme to the other, literally in a 48-hour period of drought conditions to flooding," Clavin said. "We want to make it that the water can get off the streets and into the sewers, rather than back up on these streets and into your houses."
Clavin encouraged residents to secure any holiday decorations or even take them down if possible.
"These blowups are going to blow off your property if you do not tie them down or deflate them for the evening," he said. "Your decorations today may be your neighbors tomorrow if you don't take them down."
Check back for updates on this developing story.
With Brianne Ledda and John Asbury
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