Nasty Storm Toppling Trees and causing Power Outages

Torrential rains and strong wind gusts have been battering the tri-state area. Trees have been uprooted all around Crown Heights, and a massive crane on Montgomery and Nostrand is on the verge of collapsing after one of the support cables snapped.

NEW YORK [AP] — A Nor’Easter is ripping through the Tri-State area this weekend, with winds expected to gust up to 50 miles per hour, and as much as 5 inches of rain in places. A flood watch is in effect for most of the area through Sunday evening. The rain will be heavy at times through early tonight before tapering off.

Widespread power outages have been reported due to rain, heavy winds, and fallen trees. As of 7 p.m., Con-Ed reported nearly 74,000 customers are without power. PSE&G is reporting close to 73,000 customers are without power, while the Long Island Power Authority says over 47,000 customers have been affected.

The storm is also causing a number of travel problems.

New Jersey transit has temporarily suspended rail service on Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley and Atlantic City lines due to weather-related issues. Morris & Essex service is suspended between Summit and Dover. The Hoboken Terminal is closed due to flooding.
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NJ Transit buses are cross-honoring rail tickets and passes due to the severe weather.

The New York City Department of Transportation says Staten Island ferry service has been suspended due to heavy winds because of the coastal rainstorm.

DOT spokesman Seth Solomonow said that ferry service has been suspended by order of the U.S. Coast Guard until further notice.

The National Weather Service says there may be widespread minor and locally moderate tidal flooding and beach erosion along coastal areas.

A coastal flood watch is in effect through early Sunday morning. A high surf advisory is in effect through 7 a.m. Sunday. A coastal flood warning is in effect for Long Island this evening around high tide.

Forecasters also say heavy rain could cause flooding inland.

Following last month’s record snowfalls, melted snow has left the ground saturated in many areas.

Several inches of runoff from heavy rain and melting snow could cause serious flooding for some communities located near swelling bodies of water, with forecasters saying the he Hudson River Valley looks like it may be particularly vulnerable.

In New Jersey, most areas were under a flood watch issued by the National Weather Service, while coastal flood warnings and wind advisories were in effect for the Jersey Shore.

The rain began falling Friday night and was expected to continue through Sunday, with 2 to 4 inches expected. The storm also contained strong winds reaching up to 40 mph, with gusts of up to 50 mph possible.

Officials fear the storm will cause major beach erosion and moderate-to-major flooding across the state.