NYC weather: Messy Monday commute amid heavy rain, high winds, flooding threat

NYC weather forecast

FOX 5 NY's Audrey Puente has the details.

NEW YORK CITY - New Yorkers are wading through a messy Monday evening commute due to a powerful coastal storm that blasted the region on Monday with damaging winds and heavy rain.

The storm knocked out power to over 100,000 people across the region and dropped as much as 5 inches of rain in some areas.

High winds caused the temporary closure on the Verrazzano Bridge early Monday. The bridge later reopened with a ban on large vehicles.

The storm dumped nearly 4 inches of rain in parts of Westchester County, flooding most of the Bronx River Parkway.

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NYC power outage tracker: Thousands in the dark across NY, NJ, CT

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NYC power outage tracker: Thousands in the dark across NY, NJ, CT

Thousands of customers across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are without power following a powerful storm system that continues to slide up the East Coast.

New York City issued a travel advisory, urging people to limit travel and stay indoors during the worst of the storm. The city also suspended alternate side parking.

Heavy rain and high tides caused flooding along the Jersey Shore, leading authorities to block off roads near Barnegat Bay in Bay Head and Mantoloking. The flooding was made worse by leaf piles that residents had put out for collection but was blocking water from reaching drains.

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NYC weather: Heavy rain, high winds slam East Coast as flooding threat becomes major concern

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NYC weather: Heavy rain, high winds slam East Coast as flooding threat becomes major concern

A powerful storm system will continue to slide up the East Coast, packing threats of flooding, high winds and severe weather that could disrupt pre-Christmas travel for millions in the Northeast, including New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut.

The storm also caused hundreds of flight cancellations across the northeast, with nearly 80 flights canceled and more than 90 delayed at NYC-area airports.

Leaders said they began interagency calls Thursday and activated the Emergency Operation Center, as well as beefed up staffing and positioned equipment in case residents need assistance.

The city urges residents to check in on their neighbors and relatives, along with anyone with special needs and the elderly.

"Unlike last week, this storm will come a little later and affect the Monday commute, so people should take it slow," said NYC Deputy Commissioner Christina Farrell.

Where is the heaviest rain expected in the Northeast?

The National Weather Service has issued Flood Watches through Monday for nearly 60 million people in the eastern U.S.

Flood Watches are in effect for the Northeast through Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (FOX Weather)

A widespread 2 to 4 inches of rain is predicted to fall from the Northeast and New England through the mid-Atlantic and the eastern Carolinas.

Localized rainfall totals between 4 and 6 inches are possible in some locations, particularly near the coast.

The rainfall forecast through Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (FOX Weather)

The heavy rain will likely trigger areas of flash flooding through Monday.

How strong will the winds be along the East Coast?

A High Wind Warning is posted for Monday in parts of coastal New England and Long Island, where wind gusts up to 60 mph are expected. The strong gusts could knock down trees and power lines, leading to scattered power outages.

Wind alerts are in effect for parts of the Northeast. (FOX Weather)

New York City is included in a Wind Advisory that is in effect for Monday along other parts of the Northeast and New England coasts, where gusts between 45 and 55 mph are predicted. Some tree limbs could be blown down in these areas, possibly resulting in a few power outages.

Unsecured holiday decorations will also be blown around in these gusty winds, so be sure to secure them or bring them indoors until the winds subside.