NYC Emergency Management Issues Travel Advisory Ahead Of Wet & Windy Conditions Affecting New York City

Emergency Management


Press Release


For Immediate Release

#37-23

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY AHEAD OF EXPECTED WET & WINDY CONDITIONS AFFECTING NEW YORK CITY

November 20, 2023 — The New York City Emergency Management Department has issued a travel advisory for Tuesday, November 21, through Wednesday, November 22, 2023, in anticipation of wet and windy weather conditions. The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts 1–2 inches of rain Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, potentially causing minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas, most notably on Tuesday night. Accompanying the rainfall, wind gusts are expected to reach 30 –40 mph citywide, with the possibility of up to 45 mph along the southern coastlines overnight on Tuesday. No thunderstorms are expected. The weather system is expected to move out by mid-morning Wednesday, yielding to dry conditions with brisk northwest winds and gusts between 20 and 30 mph persisting into Thursday.

The NWS has also issued a Freeze Warning for tonight beginning midnight through 8 AM Tuesday morning for the Bronx and Staten Island, with temperatures forecasted to drop below 30°F. The NYC Department of Homeless Services has issued a Code Blue and outreach teams will canvass all five boroughs to connect our most vulnerable New Yorkers to shelters. For the most immediate response, New Yorkers who see individuals they believe to be experiencing homelessness and in need should contact 311 via phone or mobile app and request outreach assistance.

“This week, as we gear our focus towards family, friends, and all of the things we’re grateful for, New Yorkers should also remember to keep an eye on the weather,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “We are preparing for heavy rains and strong winds over the next few days, which means everyone should bundle up and wear extra layers when heading outside. If you are traveling, please leave room for extra travel time and remember to check on friends, relatives, and neighbors. As always, we encourage everyone to sign up for Notify NYC to stay informed on the latest weather information based on where you are located. New Yorkers should take comfort in knowing that their city is looking out for them and is preparing to ensure this weather event causes as few disruptions as possible.”

“As we all prepare to spend time with our friends and families this week, we encourage New Yorkers to also prepare for potential heavy rain and strong winds this week,” said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “We know from experience that weather patterns can change very quickly, and it’s always best to be proactive. To that end, we’ve begun working with our partners to ensure that the city is prepared and urge New Yorkers to monitor the forecast, especially, during holiday travel.”

New Yorkers and visitors 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, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, 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. You can also follow @NotifyNYC or @nycemergencymgt on social media.

Safety Tips

Allow for extra travel time. New Yorkers are urged to use public transportation. If traveling, check with your airline or airport on any possible delays or changes.

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

If you live in a basement apartment in a flood prone area, prepare to move to higher ground.

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.

For more safety tips, visit nyc.gov/SevereWeather.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Press Office (718) 422-4888

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