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If your morning today felt more like a weather roulette wheel than a commute, you’re not imagining things. New York City is officially under both a coastal flood advisory and a wind advisory as a fast-moving, feisty storm system barrels through the region, bringing rain, rough gusts and a dramatic temperature drop all in one day.
The setup will make for classic Northeast weather whiplash. A strong low-pressure system pushed into the area overnight, bringing warm air northward. That’s why the day has started in the mid-50s (nearly 60 degrees in some spots) with rain, occasional thunder and southerly winds already gusting past 40 miles per hour. Severe storms aren’t expected, but the conditions are more than enough to cause trouble.
Rain should continue on and off through late morning or lunchtime, with most neighborhoods picking up around an inch of rain and generally fewer than two inches. Widespread flash flooding isn’t the main concern, but ponding on low-lying roads and highways could increase the risk of hydroplaning.
Wind, however, is the headliner. A wind advisory is in effect across the city and the wider tri-state area, with gusts expected to reach 45 to 50 miles per hour and potentially higher in exposed areas. Those strong southerly winds meeting the mid-morning high tide are what triggered the coastal flood advisory.
For coastal neighborhoods in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, onshore wind can push water inland, leading to minor coastal flooding. In the most vulnerable, low-lying areas, water levels could rise by 2 to 2.5 feet above normal high tide.
By late afternoon, the storm starts to exit, but not quietly. Winds will shift from the south to the west, remaining gusty as they usher in much colder air. Temperatures are expected to tumble into the 30s by early evening, with wind chills making it feel even colder. Any lingering moisture on roads could freeze after dark.
NYC Emergency Management has issued a travel advisory, warning of flying debris, slick roads and slower-than-usual trips. Property owners and construction sites have also been told to secure anything that could become airborne.
The good news is that the worst of it should wrap up by Friday night. The weekend looks calmer, sunnier and colder, with highs mainly in the 30s Saturday and a modest warm-up Sunday.