The Latest As Region Prepares For Nor'Easter Expected To Bring Damaging Winds, Flooding Our Way

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — A powerful nor'easter heading up the East Coast is expected to affect our region on Sunday and Monday more than initially forecast, with high winds, heavy rain, and beach erosion, according to the latest from the National Weather Service.

Coastal areas along the Sound Shore will see the greatest impact with high winds, heavy rain, and beach erosion likely, but inland areas of the Hudson Valley should also be ready for damaging winds and potentially heavy rains leading to flooding.

A coastal flood watch has been upgraded to a coastal flood warning for the entire Sound Shore.

The coastal storm is expected to impact our region starting late Sunday morning and lingering into late Monday or early Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

While the coastal areas will see the greatest threat from the nor'easter, inland areas in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties will see strong winds and increasing rain as grey skies and drizzle have the potential to change over to high winds and heavy downpours as the storm slowly moves up the coast.

The National Weather Service is now predicting rainfall of as much as three quarters of an inch possible on both Sunday and Monday in coastal areas. Inland areas of the Hudson Valley can expect similar rainfall totals on Sunday, and up to a half of an inch on Monday.

Winds along the coast could reach as high as 22 mph with gusts as high as 37 mph. Away from the shore, gusts could still reach as much as 26 mph.

Widespread power outages are possible.

Con Edison said it is mobilizing in advance of the storm and calling on 900 mutual aid workers for emergency response. O&R said it will also be mobilizing its emergency response workforce to respond to any outages that may occur over the holiday weekend. In preparation for the storm, NYSEG has pre-staged 60 additional line and 30 tree personnel in Brewster to assist with restoration efforts if needed.

"High winds, heavy rain and rising tides are expected to hit New York City and Westchester County on Sunday," Con Edison said in a statement released ahead of the forecast severe weather. "The prolonged rainfall, saturated soil, and full foliage can cause trees and branches to fall onto power lines and bring them down, causing customers to lose service and creating a safety hazard."

The utility also took the opportunity to urge the public to stay away from downed wires, as they might well be potentially live wires.

The company warned the forecast nor'easter may cause coastal flooding, and that in the event of major flooding, crews would have to wait for flood waters to recede before entering some facilities to assess damage.