STATES of emergency have been declared in New Jersey and New York as a powerful nor'easter storm strikes the East Coast, bringing racing winds and "life-threatening flash flooding."
More than 4,000 people across the Empire and Garden states are already without power on Tuesday morning as heavy rainfall continues to douse the region.
The storm, which is expected to deliver powerful winds and more than five inches of rainfall in a short burst, comes just one month after the devastating Hurricane Ida that left 82 people dead.
The National Weather Service issued several flash flood watches in the northeast beginning Monday evening and lasting through Tuesday afternoon – impacting nearly 30 million people.
Lines of thunderstorms are also expected to develop, with rainfall rates exceeding one inch per hour at times.
FLASH-FLOODS
The heavy rainfall will lead to flash flooding of creeks, streams, urban areas, and poor drainage areas where the rain is the heaviest.
In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency spanning more than 20 counties on Monday night.
“I am encouraging New Yorkers to prepare now for inclement weather expected over the coming days and urging commuters to take precaution ahead of heavy rainfall expected tomorrow morning,” she said.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy also issued a state of emergency which began at 8pm yesterday.
"Severe weather conditions will impact the state starting tonight through the next several days," the governor said.
Flash flooding was already reported in parts of New Jersey early on Tuesday morning.
Towns scattered throughout the state have reported more than three inches of rain throughout the first 12 hours of the storm, with totals in some places expected to top six inches. Currently topping the list is Wayne in Passaic County, which has recorded 3.72 inches of rain.
'WIDESPREAD OUTAGES'
Damaging winds are expected to blow down trees and power lines in some areas, with high wind warnings in place for parts of eastern Long Island, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
"Widespread power outages are expected," the National Weather Service said. "Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles."
New England's largest energy provider, Eversource Energy, has warned that more than 100,000 customers could lose power across Tuesday and into Wednesday.
The company said the early season nor'easter presents a greater risk to powerlines because the leaves are still on trees.
"When trees still have most of their leaves, the risk of tree-caused outages with a nor'easter is much higher," a spokesperson told CNN. "Weighed down by the rain, the leaves act like a sail, causing the tree to bend with the wind."
New York will bear the brunt of the strongest winds over the next 24 hours, forecasts show.
New York City Emergency Management has issued a travel advisory in response to the storm.
"This event may cause flooding in the city, including on highways, streets, underpasses, as well as other poor drainage or low-lying spots," NYC Emergency Management Incoming Acting Commissioner Andrew D'Amora said.
"New Yorkers should give themselves additional travel time and take the appropriate precautions if they must move about the city during the storm."
MTA WARNING
Officials with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) say they're deploying a large number of crews from New York City Transit, Metro-North, LIRR, and the bridges and tunnels team in strategic places to respond to flash flooding.
They will be hoping to avoid the disasters seen during Hurricane Ida in which a number of subway stations throughout Manhattan were submerged in floodwaters, leaving some straphangers stranded.
In a statement, the MTA said it was expected six inches of rain over 12 hours, though assured commuters it will be nothing like Ida.
"At no point do we expect to see the type of intense rainfall over a very short term that we had during Hurricane Ida," MTA's acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, pointing out that the city saw more than 3.5 inches in one hour during Ida.
"But, we are prepared for whatever comes," Janno added.
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