Weather

Nor’easter brings coastal flood threat during high tides

UPDATE (Friday, 4:45 p.m.): About 860 PSEG-Long Island customers in Orient are without power late Friday afternoon as the nor’easter continues to bring gusty winds to the North Fork.

Just before 5 p.m., the PSEG-Long Island outage map showed 856 customers in Orient were without power. An earlier outage in East Marion has been resolved.

Crews are reportedly en route to investigate the outage.

Power is estimated to be restored at 11:15 p.m. for the area, according to PSEG’s outage map.

In a storm update at 4 p.m., PSEG Long Island reported about 29,638 out of its approximately 1.1 million customers across Long Island and the Rockaways were without power. and had restored service to 23,059 customers as of 4 p.m. More than 900 restoration personnel are on site to restore outages and crews will continue to work through the night to respond to service needs, according to PSEG.

PSEG is reminding customers that downed wires should always be considered “live” and shot not be approached or driven over. To report an downed wire call PSEG Long Islan’ds 24-hour Electric service number: 1-800-490-0075 or report outages by texting “OUT” to PSEGLI (773454).

UPDATE (Friday, 2 p.m.): PSEG Long Island was reporting 178 customers without power in East Marion. An additional outage in Orient has 28 customers without power. As of 2 p.m., PSEG was reporting 216 active outages across Long Island.

Waves crashing under homes near Soundview Avenue, just west of Southold Town Beach. (Credit: Steve Wick)

UPDATE (Friday, 11:45 a.m.): Southold Deputy Highway Superintendent Roger Tabor said while there are some limbs down and flooding, there have been no major issues reported through Friday morning. The concern so far remains the evening high tide, he said.

Original Story: A nor’easter already arrived on the North Fork by the time residents woke up on Friday morning.

The significant storm is bringing gusty winds of up to 70 mph in some places, heavy rain, and possible flooding throughout Long Island— and areas of snow elsewhere in the northeast.

Heavy rainfall of at least 2 to 4 inches is expected, according to the National Weather Service. A flood watch has been in effect since 6 a.m. on Friday and remains in effect until 6 a.m. on Saturday.

“Minor to locally moderate coastal flood expected this morning,” the NWS said in a coastal flood advisory, which is in effect until 1 p.m. on Friday.

Widespread moderate coastal flood is expected, however, particularly along the southern and eastern bays on Long Island and the North Fork during high tides. Water could be 2 to 3 1/2 feet above normal Saturday night, the NWS said.

Coastal flood warnings have been issued for Friday night at 6 to Saturday at 2 a.m., and again Saturday at 6 a.m. to Sunday at 2 a.m.

Water flooding a dock at Jockey Creek in Southold Friday afternoon. (Credit: Steve Wick)

Wind picked up late Thursday night, increased overnight, and will continue to pound the East End Friday. Forecasters said the damaging winds would be out of the north 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph in Riverhead and 65 mph in Orient. The strongest winds are expected to pick up Friday afternoon and evening.

The Cross Sound Ferry canceled some morning ferries due to weather conditions, the ferry confirmed. According to its website, the 8 a.m., noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. ferries from Orient Point were canceled, as were the 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m from New London, Conn.

Power outages from blown down trees and power lines are possible.

PSEG-Long Island said in a statement Thursday that it was prepared to tackle the damage from the nor’easter. To report and receive status updates on an outage Text OUT to PSEGLI (773454) or to report an outage online visit http://www.psegliny.com.

Officials said to stay away from down wired and treat them as though they are energized. To report a downed wire call PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour Electric Service number: 1-800-490-0075.

Top photo caption: A view of an underwater dock at Nassau Point in Cutchogue Friday. (Credit: Jeremy Garretson)

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