Press Release

#04-24
 

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES WEATHER ALERT FOR FRIDAY 1/12 INTO SATURDAY 1/13
 

January 12, 2024 – The New York City Emergency Management Department has issued a Weather Alert for Friday, January 12 into Saturday, January 13, 2024. According to the National Weather Service, moderate to heavy rain, strong winds, and minor to moderate coastal flooding are likely tonight into Saturday.


Moderate to locally heavy rain

Citywide totals of 1 to 1.5 inches of rain at rates around 0.10 to 0.25 inch/hour. The heaviest rain will be from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Minor flooding is likely, resulting in scattered disruptions to transportation and minor flooding of basements, first floors, and some underground infrastructure. Isolated thunderstorms and lightning are also possible overnight.


Gusty to strong winds possible

A Wind Advisory has been issued citywide from 10 p.m. tonight to 6 a.m tomorrow for southeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Strong gusts may result in scattered downed tree limbs, with a few downed trees, power lines, and power outages possible. Poorly secured outdoor objects may be damaged or blown away. This may result in scattered downed tree limbs, with a few downed trees, power lines, and power outages. Poorly secured outdoor objects may be damaged or blown away. Gusts of 35 to 45 mph continue throughout the day Saturday into Sunday.


Minor to locally major coastal flooding

Less than 1 foot of minor flooding is possible Friday night, with peak tide around 9 p.m. in New York Harbor and midnight in the Long Island Sound.


A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect for south Queens from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday for 2 to 2.5 feet of moderate flooding. In some areas, 3 feet of locally major flooding will be possible, especially as tidal piling overnight will inhibit the recession of water as the high tide rises. This may cause numerous road closures, widespread flooding of low-lying properties, including basements and first floors, and flood-damaged vehicles.


A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect for the Bronx and north Queens from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. Saturday for 1.5 to 2 feet of minor flooding. Another Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect for Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday for 1 to 2 feet of minor flooding. These may result in minor flooding of low-lying roads and properties near the shoreline.


Lastly, along Atlantic-facing beaches, 8 to 12 foot breaking waves may cause dune erosion and overwashes overnight and Saturday morning.


According to the MTA, MTA Bridges and Tunnels will implement a ban on empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks on all bridges beginning at 9:00 p.m. on Friday through 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13. The pedestrian walkways at the Cross Bay and Marine Parkway Bridges will also be closed during this time.


NYC Emergency Management strongly encourages all New Yorkers to take proactive steps to ensure their own safety and support the city’s resilience:

  • Stay informed. Before and during an emergency, the city will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels, including NotifyNYC. Sign up for emergency notifications online or call 311. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter. 
  • Allow for extra travel time. New Yorkers are urged to use public transportation whenever possible. Expect delays with little to no notice. If you must drive, drive slowly. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible. Turn around, don't drown. Do not drive into flooded streets or enter flooded subway stations.
  • If it is safe to do so, clear debris from catch basins to prevent street flooding. Be sure to wear gloves & watch out for traffic. You can also report a clogged catch basin by calling 311.
  • Check on friends, relatives, and neighbors, especially older adults and people with disabilities, access and functional needs, or health conditions. Help them to prepare if needed. 
  • If you live in a basement apartment, or in a low-lying, flood-prone, or poor drainage area, be prepared to move to higher ground or leave your apartment should conditions worsen.
  • New Yorkers should report tree conditions including downed trees and limbs to 311; in cases of true emergency, call 911.
  • To report power outages, downed power lines or damaged electrical equipment, call your power provider immediately to report the outage. Con Edison’s 24-hour hotline is 800-75-CONED (752-6633) (TTY: 800-642-2308). You can also report an outage online on Con Edison's website. National Grid’s 24-hour hotline is 718-643-4050 (TTY: 718-237-2857). PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour hotline is 800-490-0025 (TTY: 631-755-6660)


For more safety tips, visitNYC.gov/SevereWeather. New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for NotifyNYC, the city’s free emergency notification system, to stay informed about the latest weather updates and other emergencies. Notify NYC is available in 14 languages, including American Sign Language. To learn more about the Notify NYC program or to sign up, New Yorkers can visit the Notify NYC website, call 311, or download the free Notify NYC app for your Android or Apple device. You can now text to 692-692, using the code NOTIFYNYC, NOTIFYNYCESP (Spanish), and NOTIFYFRE (French) to be instantly enrolled to receive the highest priority, verified alerts across all the five boroughs. 


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MEDIA CONTACT:           Press Office (718) 422-4888 


STAY CONNECTED:        Twitter: @NotifyNYC (emergency notifications) 

          @nycemergencymgt (emergency preparedness info) 

Facebook: /NYCemergencymanagement