New Jersey’s state of emergency began at 8pm ET Monday night, Governor Phil Murphy confirmed, with “severe weather conditions” expected to “impact the state starting tonight through the next several days”. In New York City, officials warned the storm is likely to cause serious flash flooding of up to four inches of rain and winds up to 50 miles per hour.
The National Weather Service, which has issued a separate Flash Flood Watch in the force from last night through Tuesday evening, predicts eastern coastal states will suffer heavy rainfall and gale-force winds throughout the next few days as the storm moves slowly northwards.
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According to AccuWeather, Rhode Island and parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts will be the hardest-hit areas for rain, coastal flooding and winds up to 80 mph.
These storm conditions will also bring rough seas and disruptions to shipping, AccuWeather predicts.
AccuWeather Director of Forecasting Dan DePodwin said the storm could evolve into a tropical or subtropical storm by midweek. If that’s the case, it would be named Wanda, the last name on the National Hurricane Center list for Atlantic hurricane season.
“It would also be the first named stormed in nearly a month, which is unusual for October when there is typically a secondary peak of hurricane season,” DePodwin said.
She has deployed trucks and crews to provide aid during the storm, as heavy rains and winds are expected through Wednesday.
“But my main concern is you. I want to keep you safe,” Hochul said.
Hochul said she wants to avoid the loss of life that occurred during severe flooding from a recent hurricane.
“We saw what happened just a few weeks ago when Hurricane Ida had unprecedented rains falling out of the sky and so many people were trapped in their homes,” she said. “Please don’t let that happen to you and don’t get trapped on the roads.”
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) station in Binghamton has issued a flash flood warning for a large area of upstate New York, including Marcellus, until 6:30 p.m. ET Tuesday.
NWS advises people to “avoid walking or driving through floodwaters.”
The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency said the state could receive “up to an additional four inches of rain” and experience flash flooding on roads.
While the rain has stopped, the roads remain covered in water. Some cars were seen driving through the floods. Hoboken experienced flooding during recent hurricanes this year.
Wind gusts are expected to reach up to between 50 and 60 mph WNBC reported.
Wayne, Kearny and Waldwick, New Jersey all received over four inches in the last 24 hours.
Brooklyn, New York also received over four inches of rain.
He said residents “should stay alert, as this storm is far from over.”
Eversource Energy’s Connecticut division said tree crews are clearing debris so that line crews can repair damaged power lines across Connecticut. It also advised residents to stay away from downed wires on roads.
The Norwalk, CT police have reported several low-hanging powerlines Tuesday.
“Wave action and surge from the powerful storm will cause some splash-over or beach erosion, focused around the time of high tide,” NWS Gray said in a tweet.
WMTW Meteorologist Ted McInerney said a nor’easter is an “ocean storm” and noted that the Atlantic Ocean is “rough right now” and will remain that way through Wednesday.
There are already reports of ocean swells and splash over in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maine.
Coastal flood advisories are in effect up the east coast.
News 12 reporter Carolyn Blackburne captures floodwaters along Freeman Street in Crotona Park.
Univision reporter Peggy Carranza said some homes in Jersey City have lost power.
“The first Nor’easter of the season is in full swing, the heavy rains are expected to last longer and strong winds are forecast for the afternoon,” she said in a tweet. “Some homes no longer have electric service.”
Rain is expected to linger for the rest of the day, NY1 reporter Erick Adame said. Flash flood threats will lessen while high winds will pick up overnight, reaching over 40 mph.
High winds and wind gusts can blow over trees and branches, impacting powerlines and damaging homes and vehicles.
A video from WLNY reporter Jenna DeAngelis shows a fallen tree crushing a parked car in Queens Tuesday morning. No one was reportedly injured.
There is currently a wind advisory in Suffolk County, New York, WABC reports.
The city has received between two and three inches of rain and experienced winds up to 37 mph overnight.
He said custodial staff stayed overnight at 250 schools to prepare the buildings so that the school can be fully open Tuesday.
De Blasio added that 450 sandbags were distributed in hard-hit neighborhoods in Queens.
He described Tuesday as a “wash out” with up to five inches of rain is possible. Most areas have received one to two inches already.
Ten counties are under a flood warning and 11 counties are under a flood watch, Murphy said.
Sustained winds have reached between 20 and 45 mph with gusts expected to exceed those numbers.
There are about 3,200 reported power outages, but that number is also expected to go up with higher winds.
Governor Murphy implored residents to “be safe and use common sense.”
He told residents to “stay home,” but if people must get to work or school, he warned drivers to avoid down power lines and turn around if roads are flooded.
“We lost too many people in [Hurricane] Ida who drove through floodwaters,” he said.
Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said the flooding on roadways is best described as “intermittent.”
Spectrum 1 News is reporting that there is still a band of heavy rain over Brooklyn, with rainfall rates between 0.5 and 1.0 inches per hour. NY1 Meteorologist Erick Adame said, “this could lead to areas of additional minor street flooding.”
WLNY reporter John Dias reported that “it looks like it’s raining” inside the Rock Center subway station this morning.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said it will use its 900 pumps to “get water out” of the subway system.
“Do not be alarmed if you see a little water on a platform, if you see water on stairs,” MTA Acting Chairman Janno Lieber said in a press conference. “The system is designed to deal with it, and we will be ready.”
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The match is set to take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Many contemplate driving after flight cancellations - but serious flash flooding is expected in the next 24 hours and could be hazardous.
It also reminded those who face flight cancellations to “not drive through flooded roadways” instead.
