Oct 28, 2008 1:00 pm US/Eastern
Floods, Wind Make For Messy Tuesday Across Region
Heavy Rains, Winds Overwhelm Commuters; Delays At Local Airports
Winter, Flood Advisories Issued Across NY, NJ, Conn
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Cars all over the tri-state area have dealt with rising waters on the roads and in the valley regions. Hardest hit areas were seen on Long Island, especially on the western shore.
CBS
Residents and commuters across the tri-state are dealing with messy conditions on Tuesday, with heavy winds, rain and cool temperatures converging for a winter-like storm.
A strengthening coastal storm is affecting conditions all over the northeast, with heavy rains and winds especially troubling in parts of New York City, Long Island, northern New Jersey, southwestern Connecticut and much of the lower Hudson Valley.
Rain intensity is fluctuating from light to heavy in the city. But parts of Sullivan and Ulster and most of Long Island have not been as lucky, seeing heavier rains.
The biggest surprise - as a result of the storm and its strong northeast winds, which have pushed tidal levels well above normal, causing significant coastal flooding along the western Sound of Long Island – is the snow accumulation in parts of New Jersey. A light snowfall hit Trenton and other areas of the state around midmorning, forcing transportation officials to send out salt trucks along the Garden State Parkway, and on the New Jersey Turnpike from exits 8 to 11.
Turnpike Authority spokesman Joe Orlando said the trucks were doing spot salting on bridge decks first.
"It looked like a mini-blizard in October," Orlando said. "We're salting the roads and we haven't even gone trick or treating yet."
CBS 2 HD Meteorologist John Elliot advises commuters to stay off the roads if possible.
Flooding is causing heavy delays on most roadways, including both highways and small side roads, prompting the National Weather Service to issue flood advisories for many parts of the tri-state area.
The worst of the flooding has occurred on Long Island and Queens. High tide at noon continued the rise of the water levels, and CBS 2's Elliot says, the conditions could continue to worsen in the flood-plagued regions of the tri-state area.
Areas along Long Island have experienced rainfall between 1-2 inches. Coastal flood warnings and advisories have been issued for much of the island and southwest Connecticut as a result of the high tides and strong northeasterly flow.
Tides are maxing out at about 2.5' above normal. Also, high waves (about 6') along the shores may result in beach erosion and overwashes.
But if the precipitation weren't enough, it will be the winds that pose the most danger on Tuesday. As the day progresses, the rain will slow down, but the winds will only strengthen.
Winter weather, winter storm, flood and wind advisories have been issued already for most of the tri-state.
Some parts of the northern tri-state have seen snow accumulation. Two inches of snow was reported in western Orange County.
Elliot says the conditions are reminiscent of a March day, with temperatures typical of a December day. Temperatures shouldn't exceed a high of 45 degrees, with a low of 36 in the late evening hours.
The howling winds will continue though the evening. On the bright side however, the rains will have ended. But it will be quite chilly, with temps dipping into the mid 30's in the city by day break on Wednesday.
The coastal storm will be centered well to our north by Wednesday morning, but the tri-state will still experience gusty winds. As the coldest air mass of the season continues to settle in we'll have a tough time getting out of the 40s tomorrow.
Tuesday warnings and advisories:
Areal Flood Advisory in CT - Northern Fairfield ,
Southern Fairfield Wind Advisory in CT - Northern Fairfield , Northern Middlesex , Northern New Haven , Northern New London , Southern Fairfield , Southern Middlesex , Southern New Haven , Southern New London Areal Flood Advisory in NJ - Bergen , Eastern Passaic , Hudson , Western Passaic Wind Advisory in NJ - Bergen , Eastern Passaic , Essex , Hudson , Hunterdon , Mercer , Morris , Northwestern Burlington , Somerset , Sussex , Union , Warren , Western Passaic High Wind Warning in NJ - Coastal Ocean , Eastern Monmouth , Middlesex , Ocean , Southeastern Burlington , Western Monmouth Winter Weather Advisory in NJ - Sussex Areal Flood Watch - Eastern Columbia , Eastern Dutchess , Eastern Ulster , Western Dutchess , Western Ulster Areal Flood Advisory - Bronx , Kings (Brooklyn) , Nassau , New York (Manhattan) , Northeast Suffolk , Northern Westchester , Northwest Suffolk , Orange , Putnam , Queens , Rockland , Southeast Suffolk , Southern Westchester , Southwest Suffolk Wind Advisory - Bronx , Eastern Columbia , Eastern Dutchess , Eastern Ulster , Kings (Brooklyn) , Nassau , New York (Manhattan) , Northeast Suffolk , Northern Westchester , Northwest Suffolk , Orange , Putnam , Queens , Richmond (Staten Is.) , Rockland , Southeast Suffolk , Southern Westchester , Southwest Suffolk , Western Dutchess Winter Weather Advisory - Sullivan Winter Storm Warning - Delaware , Western Ulster
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