Strong storm drenches NYC with heavy rain, gusty winds and coastal flooding

NEW YORK – Heavy rain is falling across parts of New York City as temperatures are set to plummet into Saturday. Gusty winds are also expected to continue Friday.

The National Weather Service has issued numerous weather alerts for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut ahead of what forecasters call a bomb cyclone. Warnings and Advisories

The National Weather Service has issued coastal flood warnings for the following areas: Eastern Monmouth County, Middlesex County and Western Monmouth County from 4 a.m. Friday until 12 p.m. Friday. Southern Nassau County and Southern Queens County from 5 a.m. Friday until 1 p.m. Friday. Northeast Suffolk County, Southeast Suffolk County and Southwest Suffolk County from 5 a.m. Friday until 1 p.m. Friday. Kings County (Brooklyn), New York County (Manhattan), Richmond County (Staten Is.), Eastern Essex County, Eastern Union County and Hudson County from 6 a.m. Friday until 11 a.m. Friday. Bronx County, Northern Nassau County, Northern Queens County, Northwest Suffolk County and Southern Westchester County from 8 a.m. Friday until 1 p.m. Friday. Winter storm cancels hundreds of flights ahead of holiday weekend

Hundreds of flights are getting canceled from the Midwest to the northeast as a major winter storm slams large parts of the nation.

To see other warnings, watches and advisories, click HERE. What Is a Bomb Cyclone?

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Showers are expected to continue into Friday afternoon. The rain could be heavy at times. A huge temperature swing is also expected from highs Friday in the upper-50s to lows Saturday morning in the mid-teens. There may be a bit of a wintry mix as the temperature shifts swings in. Icy conditions are also possible at the time with the arctic air pouring in.  Heavy Rainfall and Strong Winds

Powerful winds and rain will wallop the Northeast on Friday. The FOX Forecast Center is predicting wind gusts of more than 50 mph and cannot rule out 60- to 70-mph gusts as the arctic cold front passes into Friday night.

The National Weather Service office in Upton, New York, is forecasting heavy rainfall of 1.5 to 2.5 inches with localized rainfall of 3 inches for the tristate New York City region. 

"Southeasterly to southerly winds [of] 25-35 mph with gusts 45-55 mph are likely over coastal areas and the waters [Thursday night] into Friday morning," the National Weather Service said. "There is potential for a brief period of damaging southerly winds of 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph with a narrow line of heavy showers and embedded thunderstorms ahead of the cold front Friday morning."

Periods of heavy rain are expected to hit central and southern New Jersey through midday Friday. The storm total rainfall of 1 to 3 inches with locally higher amounts may lead to minor flooding. 

Forecasters expect gusts around 40 to 50 mph through Friday night.

"Right along the cold front as it moves through on Friday, a narrow squall line could develop bringing localized wind gusts up to 60 mph," the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, said in a briefing. "These winds could lead to downed trees and power outages." 

Gale conditions are expected on all waters through Friday night. In some areas, seas could build to 9 to 14 feet.

New Jersey utility company PSE&G said it was preparing to respond to potential power outages.

"Heavy rain and strong wind gusts are expected followed by a deep drop in temperatures. These conditions have the potential to cause tree limbs to break and pull down wires, causing outages," PSE&G said in an email. "As we closely monitor this latest weather event, our crews are prepared and ready to respond safely and as quickly as possible if power outages occur. PSE&G has additional personnel ready to respond to service calls for 'no-heat' as well as power outages." What Can We Expect from the NY Storm? Heavy rain, high winds Wind gusts between 50-60+ mph Coastal flooding Icy for some, bitterly cold air coming soon Winter storm cancels hundreds of flights ahead of holiday weekend

Hundreds of flights are getting canceled from the Midwest to the northeast as a major winter storm slams large parts of the nation. How Much Rain for the NYC Area?

More than an inch of rain will come through the area. White Plains could see 2.5 inches.

Snow and ice are possible on the back side of the storm. A Gale Watch is also posted for the waters off New Jersey and New York. Coastal Flooding Impacts

The potential for widespread moderate to locally major coastal flooding exists for the south-facing coastal communities of southern Nassau County, southwest Suffolk County, southern Queens, the south shore of Long Island's North Fork (including Riverhead), and coastal Connecticut are for the Friday morning high-tide cycles, forecasters said.

This means flooding of 1.5 to 2.5 feet above ground with areas of 3 feet above ground.

"Numerous low-lying and shoreline roads will be closed in the area, with adjacent properties taking on water," the National Weather Service said. "Cars may be inundated if not moved to higher ground. Some flooding into areas that normally don't experience flooding."

Forecasters also expect breaking surf potentially peaking at 10 to 15 feet to cause widespread dune erosion and scattered overwashes along the oceanfront into Friday night.

The potential for widespread moderate coastal flooding exists along Long Island communities facing the Long Island Sound, southeast Suffolk County, southeast Connecticut, New York Harbor, Newark Bay, and tidally affected areas of the Hackensack River and Passaic River.

The Jersey Shore is at risk of widespread minor to moderate coastal flooding. 

"Widespread minor coastal flooding is expected to impact the high tides Friday morning and afternoon for the Atlantic coasts of New Jersey and Delaware, as well as the Delaware Bay coasts and tidal Delaware River," "Moderate coastal flooding is expected for the coastal areas of Monmouth and Middlesex Counties in New Jersey, and spotty moderate coastal flooding may occur elsewhere in Atlantic coastal New Jersey." NYC weather forecast

Here is a look at your NYC weather forecast. Fox 5 Weather Team on Twitter Nick Gregory @NickGregoryFox5 Mike Woods @MikeWoodsFox5 Audrey Puente @AudreyPuente Raegan Medgie @RaeganMedgie How’s the NYC Christmas Weekend Weather Forecast Looking?

Sunny but very, very cold. After the rain moves through, expect a dramatic drop in temperatures as arctic air rushes into the tri-state area, which could send the region into a sub-freezing temp range for a few days.

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