Update: High Wind Warning extended until 6 a.m. Tuesday
UPDATE: The National Weather Service on Monday night extended the High Wind Warning until 6 a.m. Tuesday and said the strongest winds will be overnight. Gusts of up to 60 mph are still expected and sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph, the NWS said.
A Coastal Flood Warning will also remain in effect from 4 a.m. Tuesday until 11 a.m., the NWS said. Riverhead police closed off Heidi Behr along the Peconic Riverfront Monday night due to flooding.
Original Story: The nor’easter impacting the area is expected to bring its strongest winds this afternoon into evening, according to the National Weather Service.
A high wind warning remains in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday and a coastal flood warning is in effect from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m., the NWS said. Wind gusts are expected to be up to 60 mph and sustained winds are 30 to 40 mph, the NWS said.
The strong winds could blow down trees and power lines, causing outages, and travel will be difficult, the NWS warned. As of 3:30 p.m., one outage was reported in Aquebogue affecting 201 customers.
Riverhead Town Highway Superintendent Gio Woodson said his crews began preparations Friday by getting equipment ready that may be needed, such as water pumps for flooding and boom trucks and chainsaws for damaged trees.
“Anything pertaining to the storm, we are ready,” he said. “We got the guys opening up drains, just getting ready for whatever Mother Nature’s gonna throw at us.”
A weather and travel advisory issued this afternoon by Supervisor Sean Walter said tides are expected to be two to four feet above normal due to the wind.
“Coastal flooding will occur during the next two high tide cycles, tonight around 9 p.m. and then again tomorrow morning around 9 a.m.,” the statement said.
Rain was originally forecast for early Monday morning but will now start mainly after 3 p.m., according to the NWS. The heaviest rain will fall tonight. Rain is likely to fall through Tuesday afternoon before clear skies return Wednesday.
Photo caption: High winds spotted at Northville Flagpole Co. around 9:30 a.m. Monday. (Credit: Nicole Smith)
