The Big Apple could be underwater as the work week begins, with an intense nor’easter expected to sock the city this weekend with significant rain and strong winds as high as 60 mph.
Forecasters say the storm could dump between 1.5 to 3 inches of precipitation throughout the five boroughs beginning Sunday night and continuing into Monday — but officials are warning the total amounts could be much higher.
“The combination of persistent, strong onshore winds, high surf and high astronomical tides may lead to some East Coast communities experiencing significant coastal flooding impacts,” the National Weather Service warned.
This weekend’s storm could usher in flash flooding similar to the storm that socked the region in July. REUTERSNew Yorkers living in low-lying zones and on the coast should prepare for flooding the likes of which filled basements and subways rapidly in July.
Communities along southern Brooklyn, southern Queens, the eastern shore of Staten Island, and the Bronx shoreline are at greatest risk for flooding and storm impact, the city’s Emergency Management warned.
Similar conditions are expected to slam the south shore of Long Island — prompting Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to issue a high wind advisory from 12 p.m. Sunday through 6 a.m. Monday and activate the county’s emergency operations center.
“You never know what the intensity or the strength of the storm will be until it actually happens. It’s nature. We monitor the situation very closely. We’ll prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” Blakeman said in a statement.
The rainfall was forecasted to start as a trickle throughout the day Saturday before gearing up after 8 a.m. on Sunday.
New Jersey has been placed under a state of emergency. FOX WeatherBy Sunday evening, rain could be a constant presence, while winds reach 23 mph with gusts as high as 41 mph, the NWS said.
Those winds will be much higher for south Brooklyn and Queens, however, with a peak of 60 mph expected to slam the area Sunday afternoon through Sunday night.
Fallen trees and downed power lines are highly probable during that time, meteorologists said.
Up to three inches of rain is expected to douse the Big Apple. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York PostThe heavy rain and strong winds will stay steady throughout the day Monday, only easing up into evening hours.
Coastal Flood Watches are in effect from Sunday through Monday as 12–15-foot waves could mean some areas could see tides reach 2–4 feet above normal — meaning significant beach erosion and dune breaching is possible for coastal communities.
New Jersey was under a state of emergency starting as early as midday Saturday to prepare for the threat.
The NYCEM is encouraging the Big Apple’s coastal neighborhoods and other flood-prone areas to take action on Saturday to get ahead of the chaos, including making a Go-bag with vital supplies in case of an emergency evacuation.
New Yorkers were also encouraged to gather supplies ahead of time, relocate parked cars to higher ground and proactively clear out local sewage drains to facilitate rainfall drainage.
The flood conditions can be monitored in real-time using the NYCEM’s FloodNet website floodnet.nyc.
“We’re keeping a close eye on this storm as it moves up the coast,” said NYCEM Commissioner Zach Iscol.
“While the exact impacts will depend on the storm’s track, we’re expecting strong winds and coastal flooding, especially in our shoreline communities. We encourage all New Yorkers to begin preparing now: make a plan, check on your neighbors, and sign up for Notify NYC alerts.”
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