City Updates Travel Advisory For New Yorkers to Prepare For Coastal Storm

Emergency Management


Press Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 17, 2023

CONTACT: pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov, (212) 788-2958

CITY UPDATES TRAVEL ADVISORY, MAYOR ADAMS ADVISES NEW YORKERS — PARTICULARLY THOSE IN JAMAICA BAY — TO PREPARE FOR COASTAL STORM BRINGING HEAVY RAIN, DAMAGING WINDS, COASTAL FLOODING

City Suspends Alternate Side Parking for Monday, December 18

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) Commissioner Zach Iscol today updated the prior travel advisory for Sunday, December 17 and Monday, December 18. The National Weather Service continues to monitor a major coastal storm that will impact the area tonight and tomorrow, bringing moderate to heavy rain, strong to damaging winds, and coastal flooding. Impacts to the morning commute tomorrow will be possible. The administration also announced that Alternate Side Parking Regulations will be suspended tomorrow, Monday, December 18, 2023. Payment at parking meters will remain in effect throughout the city.

“As the forecast for this evening’s weather intensifies, our city agencies are hard at work, making sure we can handle anything the storm throws at us,” said Mayor Adams. “But we need your help, too. Before the storm starts, secure any loose outdoors items, clear your catch basins if it’s safe, and if you live in a low-lying or poor drainage area, make sure you have a plan for if it floods. Once the storm starts, stay off the roads, so our emergency vehicles can get wherever they need to go. If you have to go out, use mass transit. And sign up for Notify NYC, to make sure you have the most up-to-date information you need to stay safe.”

"In light of increasing confidence in the forecast and expected impacts across the city, we are updating our travel advisory and urging New Yorkers to exercise extreme caution tonight and tomorrow,” said NYCEM Commissioner Iscol. “The National Weather Service has put New York City under numerous watches, warnings, and advisories as they expect the storm to bring a range of hazards to the area. Heavy rain tonight and tomorrow morning will likely cause widespread minor flooding of roadways and properties, particularly in flood-prone areas. Expect travel delays and disruptions for the morning commute. At the same time, damaging winds may result in multiple power outages. I want to stress that even after the heaviest rain and strongest winds have ended, moderate to locally major coastal flooding is predicted tomorrow afternoon. Our teams are fully prepared and closely coordinating with city agencies to ensure a swift response to any emergencies. I strongly recommend avoiding unnecessary travel, and if you must travel, please consider public transportation, and expect travel delays. Above all, please prepare now, stay safe, stay informed, and keep updated with Notify NYC for real-time information.”

A High Wind Warning is now in effect for Brooklyn and Queens from 12:00 midnight to 12:00 noon tomorrow. A Wind Advisory is also in effect for the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island from 12:00 midnight to 12:00 noon tomorrow. Easterly wind gusts of 20 to 25 MPH are expected through this evening. Winds will ramp up around midnight and will continue to increase overnight. Gusts of 50 to 60 MPH will be possible for about a four- to six-hour period late tonight through mid-morning tomorrow, highest along the coast in Brooklyn and Queens. Damaging gusts may also occur with thunderstorms and heavy downpours. Scattered downed tree limbs and uprooted trees may cause power outages. Poorly secured objects, including holiday decorations, may be damaged or blown away. Winds will gradually taper off late tomorrow morning but may increase again slightly in the afternoon, with gusts of 35 to 45 MPH continuing through the early evening, highest along the coast.

Coastal Flood Warnings are in effect for southern Queens from 9:00 PM today to 6:00 PM tomorrow, and for Brooklyn and Staten Island from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM tomorrow. Coastal Flood Advisories are in effect for the Bronx, Manhattan, and northern Queens from 10:00 PM tonight to 6:00 PM tomorrow. For the high tide tonight, minor coastal flooding is likely, with up to one-foot of inundation possible across shorelines citywide. High tide will peak between 12:00 midnight and 1:00 AM in the New York Harbor and Jamaica Bay, and around 3:00 AM in the Long Island Sound. Heavy rain may exacerbate flooding during this time. For the high tide tomorrow afternoon, widespread moderate to locally major coastal flooding is anticipated with inundation of 1.5 to 2.5 feet and up to 3 feet locally in Jamaica Bay. High tide will peak between 12:00 noon and 1:00 PM in the New York Harbor and Jamaica Bay, and around 3:00 PM in the Long Island Sound. Flooding may result in closed roadways, inundated properties, and flood-damaged vehicles. Lingering showers may exacerbate flooding during this time. Additional flooding is not expected Tuesday night.

A Flood Watch is in effect citywide from 5:00 PM today to 5:00 PM tomorrow. There’s a chance for light rain this afternoon, becoming likely by the early afternoon through the early evening. Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall develop tonight and continue through tomorrow morning, resulting in the potential for widespread minor flooding. Thunderstorms with heavier downpours and localized flash flooding are possible. Heavy rain may cause disruptions to transportation, particularly for the morning commute, and minor flooding of basements, first floor buildings, and underground infrastructures. A total of two to three inches of rain with locally higher amounts will be possible, most of which will fall over about a 12-hour period from tonight through tomorrow morning. Lingering showers and residual flooding are possible through the afternoon. Dry conditions are likely by the early evening tomorrow through early Tuesday morning. A few tenths of an inch of light rain are possible during the day Tuesday, but no impacts are expected. Dry conditions return by Tuesday night.

NYCEM has taken several proactive steps in response to the expected severe weather conditions, including the city's Flash Flood Emergency Plan on Thursday, and conducting several coordination calls and briefings with the National Weather Service, partner city and state agencies, and infrastructure and utility companies. The agency's Emergency Operations Center, already activated for asylum seeker operations, will be supplemented by the activation of NYCEM's Situation Room early Monday morning. Additionally, NYCEM has enhanced staffing at its Watch Command, which maintains 24/7 surveillance and response over weather developments and emergency situations, ensuring continuous monitoring, readiness, and interagency coordination.

New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) crews have been checking flood-prone locations to ensure the functionality of catch basins and drainage infrastructure, with additional personnel scheduled for Sunday and Monday. DEP is also prepared to manage stormwater with cleaned and inspected Bluebelts and monitor flooding on arterial highways. The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) is prepared to monitor road conditions at its Traffic Management Center and coordinate with sister agencies for flood conditions, while also assisting in clearing catch basins to prevent roadway flooding. DOT has also issued notifications to contractors and open restaurants.

In addition, the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) maintains 111 water-trained rescue units, equipped for various water rescues, and 143 ladder companies with chainsaws for potential wind and tree events. FDNY's Special Operations Command is prepared with high-axel vehicles for high water navigation and additional chainsaw-equipped units. The New York City Department of Sanitation will be checking and servicing hundreds of catch basins citywide, with equipment ready to assist in tree-related incidents, especially if the Downed Tree Taskforce is activated. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation is on alert to monitor tree conditions, ready to activate the Downed Tree Task Force if necessary, and with staff ready to respond. The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) Emergency Response Teams will be conducting spot inspections, and the site of the partial building collapse at Billingsley Terrace in the Bronx is being secured. The NYC Ferry will be sending out a service alert for passengers to take safety precautions.

These efforts across multiple city departments reflect a unified and proactive approach to ensuring the safety of all New Yorkers and addressing the impact of severe weather conditions.

Safety Tips

Allow for extra travel time and expect delays with little to no notice. Use public transportation whenever possible.

If you must drive, drive slowly. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible.

If you live in a basement apartment, or in a low-lying, flood-prone, or poor drainage area, be prepared to move to higher ground or leave your apartment should conditions worsen.

Turn around, don't drown. Do not drive into flooded streets or enter flooded subway stations.

Check on friends, relatives, and neighbors, especially older adults and people with disabilities, access and functional needs, or health conditions. Help them to prepare if needed.

Stay informed. Before and during an emergency, the city will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels, including Notify NYC. Sign up for emergency notifications online or call 311. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

Charge your phones and keep a flashlight and batteries handy. If you lose power and have a disability and/or use life-sustaining equipment and need immediate assistance, call 911.

To report power outages, downed power lines or damaged electrical equipment, call your power provider immediately to report the outage. Con Edison’s 24-hour hotline is 800-75-CONED (752-6633) (TTY: 800-642-2308). You can also report an outage online on Con Edison's website. National Grid’s 24-hour hotline is 718-643-4050 (TTY: 718-237-2857). PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour hotline is 800-490-0025 (TTY: 631-755-6660)

Prepare your property by bringing inside loose, lightweight, or unsecured objects such as holiday decorations, lawn furniture, potted plants, garbage cans, and garden tools.

For more safety tips, visit NYC.gov/SevereWeather. New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the city’s free emergency notification system, to stay informed about the latest weather updates and other emergencies. Notify NYC is available in 14 languages, including American Sign Language. To learn more about the Notify NYC program or to sign up, New Yorkers can visit the Notify NYC website, call 311, or download the free Notify NYC app for your Android or Apple device. You can now text to 692-692, using the code NOTIFYNYC, NOTIFYNYCESP (Spanish), and NOTIFYFRE (French) to be instantly enrolled to receive the highest priority, verified alerts across all the five boroughs.

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