New York City

New York may have dodged Hurricane Joaquin, but wind and rain lash coast

October 2, 2015 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Forecasters now say the odds of Hurricane Joaquin hitting New York are quite low. Graphic courtesy of NOAA
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The odds of dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Joaquin scoring a direct hit on New York are now very low as forecasts have the hurricane passing well off the eastern coast.

But the New York City Office of Emergency Management warned that residents should still be extra careful of high winds from an unrelated weather system, which were gusting in excess of 40 mph on Friday.

“During periods of high winds, use caution when walking or driving high-profile vehicles,” the city said in a statement. “Winds at these speeds can cause flying debris, turn unsecured objects into projectiles and cause power outages.”

Individuals who have constructed a sukkah for the Jewish holiday should take secure the structure and roofing to prevent damage or injury from flying debris, the city added.

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Emergency Management said it was adjusting its plans regarding opening shelters and conducting possible evacuations, in light of the revised forecast.

In Brooklyn, a coastal flood advisory was in effect until 3 p.m. on Friday, and a high surf advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Rain and wind gusts, with temperatures in the 50s, are expected to last through Saturday, with a 30 percent chance of light rain on Sunday. Monday is expected to be partly sunny, with a high near 68 and a 30 percent chance of rain.

South of Brooklyn, record coastal flooding and high wind gusts were blasting several states along the U.S. East Coast, especially Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center called for 10 – 15 inches of rain for much of South Carolina, including the cities of Charleston and Columbia.

Similar epic flooding was expected in North Carolina, where Gov. Pat McCrory said on Friday that the state was looking at the possibility of “deadly flooding” in many areas.

The Coast Guard was reported to be searching for a 735-foot cargo ship with 33 people on board that went missing near the Bahamas after it was caught in Hurricane Joaquin on Thursday.

Joaquin has proven especially difficult to track as the storm has been tugged in different directions by a cold front near the East Coast, the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida to its east, high pressure over the Atlantic Ocean and low pressure in the southeast, according to forecasters at Weather.com.

 


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