Nor’easter knocks out power in Riverhead as flood threat persists
More than 130 Riverhead customers were without power Saturday morning as a nor’easter battered Long Island, with more rain and coastal flooding still ahead.
As of 11:30 a.m., PSEG Long Island’s outage map showed 136 customers without electricity in Riverhead and 15,162 across Long Island and the Rockaways. The utility was still assessing conditions and had not posted a townwide restoration estimate.
Riverhead Supervisor Jerry Halpin declared a state of emergency effective through Sunday, closing town park facilities and suspending four-wheel-drive access to North Shore beaches until the emergency ends.
Highway Superintendent Mike Zaleski said drains had been cleared, equipment prepared and crews were ready to respond. Town officials said police were also prepared to handle storm-related calls.
The concern now stretches beyond keeping the lights on. A coastal flood warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday, with 1 to 2 feet of water above ground expected in vulnerable waterfront areas of northeast Suffolk and locally up to 2½ feet.
The National Weather Service’s Saturday morning forecast projected major flooding along the Peconic River in Riverhead around the midday high tide, followed by moderate flooding during the overnight and Sunday midday tides.
Forecasters warned that roads, parking lots and low-lying properties could flood, along with vehicles left near the waterfront. Drivers should not go around barricades or attempt to cross water of unknown depth.
A break in the rain Saturday afternoon could be short-lived. The weather service expects steadier rain Saturday night into Sunday morning, with showers lingering into Monday. Total rainfall across Long Island could reach 3 to 4 inches from Friday through Sunday.
Coastal wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph are forecast, with isolated gusts reaching 60 mph possible in exposed areas of eastern Long Island. A wind advisory remains in effect until 6 a.m. Sunday.
Prolonged rain and strong winds could bring down trees and power lines, forecasters warned.
The storm has also upended the weekend calendar. Riverhead Raceway’s championship events have moved to Oct. 3 and 4, while the Wading River-Shoreham Chamber Fall Festival has been rescheduled for Oct. 18.
Residents can report power outages to PSEG Long Island at 800-490-0075, through the utility’s app or by texting OUT to 773454. Downed wires must be reported by phone.
