A powerful nor’easter is bearing down on New York and New Jersey with three major hazards at once. High winds, major coastal flooding, and dangerous marine conditions are all in play from Friday evening through the weekend.
The NWS New York office and the NWS Mount Holly office both have multiple warnings out. This is shaping up to be the region’s biggest coastal storm in months.
High Wind Warning: 60 MPH Gusts for the Jersey Shore
A High Wind Warning runs from 6 PM Friday to 6 AM Sunday for Eastern Monmouth County and the coastal counties of Cape May, Atlantic and Ocean. North winds of 30 to 40 mph, gusting to 60 mph, are expected.
Damaging winds will down trees and power lines. Power outages are likely, and driving will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.
Major Coastal Flooding: Staten Island, the Bronx and Queens
The most severe flooding risk centers on New York City’s waterfront boroughs. Richmond County (Staten Island), the Bronx, and Northern Queens face a Coastal Flood Warning from 6 PM Friday to 6 PM Sunday, with two to three feet of inundation possible.
Forecasters expect moderate to locally major flooding over multiple high tide cycles. The worst is likely with the Saturday and Sunday morning high tides.
Roads, parking lots, and basements near the waterfront are all at risk. Vehicles parked in flood-prone areas will likely be damaged.
Long Island: High Surf, Rip Currents and Rising Water
Nearly all of Long Island’s coastline is under warning. Northwest Suffolk, Northern Nassau, Southern Nassau, Northeast Suffolk, Southwest Suffolk, Southeast Suffolk, Brooklyn and Southern Queens all face one to two feet of flooding, with some spots seeing up to three.
A High Surf Advisory adds waves up to 15 feet along the south shore. A High Rip Current Risk runs alongside it through Saturday evening, with life-threatening currents likely for anyone entering the water.
Great South Bay communities face some of the sharpest numbers. Lindenhurst and West Sayville are both forecast for major flood impact at multiple high tides this weekend.
New Jersey’s Bays: Middlesex and Monmouth
The NWS Mount Holly office has its own Coastal Flood Warning for Middlesex and Western Monmouth counties, running until 3 PM Sunday. One to two feet of inundation is expected, with impacts worst in back bay areas.
Eastern Monmouth shares the same flood warning, plus a High Surf Advisory with waves up to 13 feet and a High Rip Current Risk through Sunday evening. Significant beach erosion and dune breaching are both possible.
Dangerous Seas Offshore
Marine conditions are just as severe. A Storm Warning covers waters from Sandy Hook to Montauk Point, with northeast winds gusting to 65 knots and seas building to 24 feet by Saturday morning.
Mariners are urged to remain in port or secure their vessels through the weekend. These are storm-force conditions capable of capsizing or seriously damaging boats of any size.
What Residents Should Do
Move your car off flood-prone streets now. Waterfront parking areas will likely flood at multiple high tides this weekend.
Elevate belongings off the ground in basements and garages near the water. Secure anything outdoors that could blow away in the high winds.
Never drive around barricades or through standing water. It’s often deeper than it looks and can total a vehicle.
Stay off the beaches. Between the rip currents and the high surf, entering the water anywhere along the coast this weekend is dangerous.
Check your local tide timing at water.noaa.gov before heading out.
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