A week after a nor’easter caused widespread flooding on Long Island, a second powerful storm brought strong winds that sparked thousands of power outages across the region, officials said.
PSEG Long Island said crews restored power to most of the more than 57,000 customers who lost power since the storm arrived Wednesday. The National Weather Service (NWS), issued a high wind warning through 6 p.m. Thursday for Nassau and Suffolk counties, where wind gusts up to 60 mph may continue to down trees, causing more power outages. The strongest gust so far was a 83 mph gust in Stony Brook at 1 a.m. Thursday, the agency reported.
“Due to wet soil and most trees with leaves still on them, strong winds may blow down large limbs and/or trees in addition to power lines,” Upton-based NWS meteorologists said in its wind warning. “Scattered power outages are expected.”
As the system pulls away Thursday and moves toward New England, breezy conditions will continue into Friday
before winds diminish Friday night, NWS said.
The storm comes after a powerful nor’easter sparked a state of emergency in Southampton due to intense flooding on Dune Road and crews had to rescue 50 patrons from a Bay Shore restaurant and 150 wedding guests from a Sayville venue amid rising waters.
In the latest storm, a fire destroyed three homes and damaged 12 more in Ocean Bay Park on Fire Island. Firefighters from a dozen fire departments worked overnight amid storm conditions to extinguish the flames.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged drivers to travel with extreme caution and prepare for the possibility of difficult road conditions.
“I urge all New Yorkers in the affected regions to use extra caution in the coming days,” the governor said. “We have state personnel and resources on standby and are prepared to help communities handle whatever Mother Nature throws our way.”
Once the storm clears the area, the weekend is forecast as sunny with temps in the low 60s Saturday and Sunday.
