First Alert Weather Day: High Winds, Flooding, and Temperature Plunge Across Tri-State Area

Severe Weather Impacts

• 💨 Powerful winds gusting 40-50 mph, with maximum gusts up to 50-60 mph expected until midnight, are causing significant damage.
• 🧱 In Midtown Manhattan, bricks fell from a building at 299 Park Avenue, injuring one person with non-life-threatening injuries.
• 🌳 On Long Island, trees came crashing down, taking down wires and poles, and flooding affected roadways, particularly in Freeport.

Temperature Drop and Icy Conditions

• 🥶 The cold air is rapidly pulling in behind a cold front, with overnight temperatures dropping to 29°F, feeling like the teens and 20s due to wind chill.
• ⚠️ Tomorrow's high will only reach 39°F, a stark contrast to today's record-tying high of 58°F, bringing a taste of winter before the official start.
• 🧊 Residents are warned of black ice forming as melted snow and rain freeze on roads, exacerbated by ongoing winds.

Travel Disruptions

• ✈️ Airports across the Tri-State Area experienced major flight delays, with over 500 at LaGuardia, 300+ at Newark, and 400+ at JFK.
• ⛈️ Turbulent weather led to flight cancellations, stranding travelers, especially with the holiday travel rush underway.
• 🚗 AAA projects over 8 million people will fly for the holidays, a 2.3% increase from last year, adding to the travel challenges.

Ongoing Power Outages and Infrastructure Issues

• 💡 PSEG Long Island has restored power to 24,000 homes and businesses but still has at least 6,000 more to address, with potential for continued outages.
• 🍂 On Long Island, clogged storm basins due to leaves are contributing to flooding issues, with crews working to clear them.