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Rain, blustery winds to hit New York, threatening power lines, holiday decor

By
Social Links for Deirdre Bardolf
Published Dec. 9, 2023, 11:07 a.m. ET
People walking by NY Stock Exchange in rain, umbrellas seen and wet pavement
A massive weekend storm will hit the Northeast with rain, snow and heavy winds, putting the NYC area under flood and wind advisories. Getty Images

Over the hills they may go!

Holiday decorations may be in peril as a blustery storm plows through the Northeast Sunday into Monday, threatening to take down trees, power lines, Christmas lights and inflatables, and putting parts of New York City under a rare wind advisory.

There’s no snow in the forecast yet for the NYC area but heavy rains and damaging winds are expected Sunday afternoon through early Monday, with many areas also under a flood watch.

The wind watch — the city’s first in about three years — is in effect for 2.5 million people including in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island. Gusts could reach 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service. In the city, the advisory is from 4 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday.

Weather map showing weekend storm set to hit Eastern US.
A powerful storm system is expected to bring storms to the South, snow to the interior Northeast and blustery conditions along the coast. Winds will be strong enough to damage outdoor holiday decorations, meteorologists warn. FOX Weather

“Sunday would be a good day to avoid unnecessary travel,” Mayor Adams posted on X.

Hanukkah candles may light the way as power outages are possible. The strongest winds are expected to hit Long Island.

There is a chance the wind advisory will be expanded to other areas, too, Fox Weather meteorologist Brian Mastro told The Post.

Weather map showing wind gust forecast for Northeast.
A strong storm is expected to rock the East Coast Sunday through early Monday morning, bringing heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds. FOX Weather

“People have to secure everything they can outside their house, especially if they have a bunch of loose decorations,” Mastro warned.

Sunday will be a warm 61 degrees but the mercury will drop to the low- to mid-40s on Monday.

Two to three inches of rain is expected to fall late Sunday into early Monday, making for a messy commute, but should taper off by late Monday morning.

People walk across Brooklyn Bridge in the rain, seen from behind in ponchos.
Flood and wind advisories are in effect for much of New York City as well as Long Island from Sunday evening into Monday. SARAH YENESEL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Over 40 million people are under the flood watch, which includes Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens. Minor flooding may be seen in some low-lying areas like Jamaica Bay.

Delays at transit hubs may be possible as the workweek kicks off.

The eastbound storm, which will bring wind, snow or rain to everyone from the Appalachians to the coast, is associated with a storm system that brought deadly flooding to the Pacific Northwest during the week, according to Fox Weather.

Weather map showing snow forecast for inland Northeast areas.
Rain will fall as temperatures remain high in many areas but snow is a threat farther inland where freezing air will push into the with a Winter Storm Watch issued for parts of upstate New York and Vermont. FOX Weather

Snow is a threat farther inland where freezing temps will settle in.

A winter storm watch has been issued for parts of upstate New York and Vermont where 5 to 10 inches may fall.

Precipitation is expected to clear by Monday night but elevated winds will stick around into Tuesday.