NYC Travel Advisory: ‘Major’ Storm May Bring High Wind, Floods, Freeze

NEW YORK CITY — New York City will be under a travel advisory Thursday and Friday, just in time for holiday travel, with the city warning New Yorkers to expect high winds, coastal flooding and even a spattering of snow.

A wind advisory, coastal flood warning and hazardous weather outlook will be in effect Thursday and Friday as a massive “major” winter storm batters the city.

Snow could arrive late in the storm, but it likely won’t stick. Instead, New Yorkers will have to contend with a stocking stuffer of other weather woes — up to 3 inches of rain, 60 mph wind gusts, a flash freeze, negative 5 degree wind chills, coastal flooding and potential mass flight cancelations, according to National Weather Service and AccuWeather forecasters.

The city will be under a travel advisory Thursday afternoon through Friday, said emergency management Commissioner Zach Iscol.

“Prepare ahead of the holiday weekend,” Iscol said in a statement. “Heavy rain in addition to a high tide will also bring moderate to major coastal flooding. We urge coastal residents to take steps to protect their property ahead of Friday morning’s high tide.”

The major winter storm is expected to snarl air travel across the Northeast and the Midwest.

Flight delays and cancelations have already started to rack up at New York City’s three major airports, according to FlightAware.

LaGuardia had 91 delays and 69 cancelations, as of 10:40 a.m. Thursday.

JFK had 121 delays and 21 cancelations, as of the same time.

And Newark had 86 delays and 11 cancelations, again as of the same time.

The wind advisory takes effect Thursday at 10 p.m. and will last 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service.

Rain likely will arrive before then at 1 p.m. and potentially grow in intensity, forecasters warn. Thunderstorms could arrive overnight between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., with heavy rainfall and strong winds that could blow down trees, they warn.

Here’s the complete National Weather Service forecast.

Thursday
Rain, mainly after 1pm. High near 54. East wind 10 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night
Rain before 1am, then rain and possibly a thunderstorm between 1am and 4am, then rain likely after 4am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Temperature rising to around 57 by 3am. Windy, with an east wind around 26 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday
Rain showers before 1pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 1pm and 4pm, then a slight chance of snow showers after 4pm. Some thunder is also possible. Temperature falling to around 24 by 5pm. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Windy, with a south wind 21 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 48 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. Wind chill values between zero and 10. Windy, with a west wind 22 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.

Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 22. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 23 mph.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a steady temperature around 21. Breezy.

Christmas Day
Sunny, with a high near 27.

Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 21.

Monday
Sunny, with a high near 30.

Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 33.

Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 26.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.