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.
“We had some flooding with roads around noon, at the severe high tide mark roads that were near the water, like Meeting House Creek Road and Peconic Bay Boulevard,” Mr. Zaleski said.
The concern now stretches beyond keeping the lights on. A coastal flood warning remains in effect until 6 a.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.
High wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph are forecast, with isolated gusts reaching 65 mph possible in exposed areas of eastern Long Island. A wind advisory remains in effect until 12 p.m. Sunday. A coastal flood warning is in effect until Sunday at 6 a.m., according to a release from Mr. Halpin at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Prolonged rain and strong winds could bring down trees and power lines, forecasters warned.
“The worst is yet to come,” Mr. Zaleski said. “Tonight will be have more rain and heavier winds; I’m expecting 30-plus-mile-an-hour winds. By noon, we already had two inches of rain and we’re expecting probably another two to three.”
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.
Photos by Nick Mongiovi
