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First Alert Weather: Red Alert for heavy rain, wind and coastal flood concerns; Dangerous cold for Christmas

First Alert Weather: CBS2's 12/23 Friday evening update

NEW YORK -- We're on Red Alert for a storm that's bringing heavy rain and gusty winds, followed by a sharp drop in temperatures. 

It comes as millions of people are traveling for Christmas weekend. 

Stick with CBS2 and see live updates below for the latest.

 

Trees & power lines down, driver stranded in Westchester

Winter storms takes downs trees & power lines in Westchester

The Arriagas of New Rochelle felt the house shake when wind toppled a massive tree early Friday morning, causing epic damage to two work vehicles and a pair of family cars. 

"The wind was really, really rough, and we heard a loud noise," said Tanyi Arriaga. "It's just crazy. My daughter's car just got destroyed. It's her birthday, she had all these plans. It's just crazy." 

Multiple trees came down in New Rochelle, taking out power to street lights and homes. Crews contracted by Con Edison were quickly on the scene.

In Rye, the storm didn't stop first responders. Police were called to the Playland Pier as it rolled in Thursday night. 

Body camera video shows Officer Marc Spergel running to rescue a troubled person who had jumped into the Long Island Sound.

Spergel and partner Stefano Silvestri climbed onto a breakwater and down into the frigid water to bring the jumper to shore. 

"That water was freezing and you could feel it as soon as it touched you. Afterwards our fingers were numb, and our feet. We had to change our clothes. Yeah, it was a long night," said Spergel. 

Click here for the full story. 

By Tony Aiello
 

Extreme flooding on Long Island, icy roads next

Long Island floodwater recedes, but officials warn roads will freeze

In Island Park, the Long Island Rail Road tracks flooded and folks were navigating flooding levels they haven't seen in years. 

"Literally within 10 minutes, boom," said Peter Rizik. "The water was just like a river coming down the block." 

"This is the worst weather event we've had in 10 years, without a doubt," said Mayor Michael McGinty. 

McGinty said it in no way compares to Superstorm Sandy, which inundated thousands of Long Island homes, but he said seeing streets impassible was a tough flashback.

Across Nassau County, more than 100 cars got stuck in flooded streets. As the water receded, the temperature dropped precipitously.

Click here for the full story. 

By Carolyn Gusoff
 

Friday evening update

First Alert Weather: CBS2's 12/23 Friday evening update
By Lonnie Quinn
 

Hundreds more flights canceled at Tri-State Area airports, as temperatures expected to plummet

The pre-Christmas storm continues to wreck havoc on travel plans.

As of 5 p.m. on Friday, there had been 4,823 cancellations and 7,161 delays nationwide.

At the Tri-State Area airports, LaGuardia had 407 cancellations and 294 delays, Newark Liberty had 166 cancellations and 266 delays, and John F. Kennedy had 150 cancellations and 324 delays.

Click here for the full story.

By Ali Bauman
 

Flash freezing a major concern in the Tri-State Area

The dropping temperatures will be a big challenge for drivers on Friday and throughout the weekend.

Flash freezing, black ice concerns throughout Tri-State Area

Other problems include power outages caused by strong winds, as evidenced by a downed tree in Ridgewood responsible for a loss of electricity earlier in the day.

Click here for the full story.

By Christine Sloan
 

Homeowner fears storm damage will cost thousands

Queens neighborhood wakes up to flooded basements

Beach Channel Drive in Queens was a muddy river Friday morning as drivers gingerly navigated the floodwaters and saw firsthand what driving into it head-on did to others.   

"I stalled out. I was stranded there for like two hours, decided to get out and push it to higher ground," one driver said. 

Far Rockaway only received about half an inch of rain, but neighbors said high tide at 7 a.m. caused water from the bay to back into their sewer system, overwhelming the roads and their homes. 

"It was heavy last night. It woke everybody up in the house and I haven't seen it this bad since Sandy," said Chip Marti

Now, neighbors say they're urgently trying to pump the water out so sidewalks and driveways have time to dry before freezing temperatures take hold.

Click here for the full story. 

By Christina Fan
 

First Alert forecast: 12 p.m. Friday

First Alert Weather: Icy conditions this afternoon

A squall line is moving through midday that could produce snow and slippery conditions.

Then, we'll see temperatures fall well below freezing, so watch out for black ice on the evening commute.

By Elise Finch
 

Winter weather advisory in New Jersey

A Winter weather advisory has been issued for parts of New Jersey. A burst of snow Friday afternoon could produce up to 1/2 inch of snow over a short period of time, creating icy/slippery conditions. 

CBS2
By Justin Lewis
 

Winds take down trees

CBS2's Tony Aiello came across a large tree that fell in New Rochelle. 

It damaged four vehicles along with the gutter and windows of a home.

By Tony Aiello
 

Now what's next?

CBS2

Alert: Red Alert remains through early tomorrow morning for coastal flooding this morning, a midday/afternoon squall line (rain/snow), gusty winds and a dramatic temperature drop (flash freezing).

CBS2

Forecast: Coastal flooding continues this morning, though many locations are around or just past their tidal peak, so conditions should gradually improve over the next few hours. A midday/afternoon squall line will bring a final burst of rain and snow to the area with little or no snow accumulation expected. 

CBS2

Windy conditions are expected in its wake with peak gusts of up to 50 mph. In addition to this, temperatures will fall off dramatically with feels like temps in the 30s by noon, single digits for the afternoon commute and below zero everywhere by daybreak tomorrow.

CBS2

Looking Ahead: Tomorrow will be frigid and blustery with feels like temps stuck in the single digits in the afternoon. As for Christmas, it will remain very cold with wind chills only in the teens. Again, this could be our coldest Christmas since 2000 -- so about 20 years.

By Justin Lewis
 

First Alert forecast: 8 a.m. Friday

First Alert Weather: Rain slows ahead of snow

The rain turned heavy overnight, but we're seeing a break this morning. A squall line is expected to bring a final burst of rain and snow midday. 

Winds hit peak gusts of 50 mph this afternoon, when temperatures plunge into the single digits.

By Elise Finch
 

Check your flight status

Be sure to check with your airline or airport before leaving home. 

Area Airports

Other helpful links

By CBS New York Team
 

Reporting power outages

Check the following links for outages in your area: 

New York

New Jersey

Connecticut

By CBS New York Team
 

First Alert forecast: 5 a.m. Friday

First Alert Weather: Winter storm brings rain, snow and wind ahead of cold

CBS2's Elise Finch has the latest weather forecast as the storm gains steam overnight.

By Elise Finch
 

NYC suspends outdoor dining

NYC outdoor dining suspended due to storm

The storm caused the Department of Transportation to shut down outdoor dining in the city. 

The ban will be in effect until 8 p.m. Friday. 

Restaurants have been told to remove electrical heaters and to secure outdoor furniture and street sheds. 

The DOT also suspended the Open Streets program and is securing barriers used to close off streets. 

By CBS New York Team
 

Coastal flooding concerns on LI

Coastal flooding concerns on Long Island

CBS2's Zinnia Maldonado reports from Babylon, where a coastal flood warning goes into effect from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The warning also impacts parts of Queens and the Bronx.

By Zinnia Maldonado
 

Flooded roadways for morning commute

Checking on road conditions in New Jersey

CBS2's Elijah Westbrook is checking on road conditions across the area. 

He found some flooding on Route 46 in Lodi, New Jersey. 

By Elijah Westbrook
 

Conditions deteriorate in parts of New Jersey

Rain and wind slamming Tri-State Area as storm moves in
By Kristie Keleshian
 

2,000 flights canceled nationwide

2,000 flights and counting canceled so far nationwide
By Ali Bauman
 

New Jersey state offices closed Friday

There is rain, wind and a threat of flooding ahead of the Christmas holiday.

A state of emergency goes into effect for New York and Gov. Phil Murphy announced all New Jersey state offices will be closed Friday.

The winds were getting stronger and it was getting wetter and chillier in Ridgefield, New Jersey on Thursday night. Drivers at the Vince Lombardi Service Area were rushing in to get what they need.

There was heavy traffic all along the highways. Some people told CBS2 they are changing up their plans this holiday because of the storm.

"So we hoped to skip out of town to, hopefully, not get canceled from our flight from Boston to Newark. So we decided to drive, but it took us six hours instead of four," said Tabitha Karch of Massachusetts.

"I'm actually coming home a day early. I was supposed to come home tomorrow night," said Carolyn Murphy of Philadelphia.

Winds are expected to cause power outages across the region. Con Edison and PSE&G both say they're prepared.

The utilities are reminding everyone to get everything charged now while you still have power and even recommend having a plan to stay somewhere else if you are expected to get hit hard by the storm. 

By Kristie Keleshian
 

Flight cancellations and delays are already mounting

The weather is threatening holiday travel plans for millions of Americans. Flight cancellations have already begun and are expected to get worse.

Thursday is one of the busiest travel days of the year, and for some it's the last chance to make it home for the holidays.

READ MOREFirst Alert Weather: Red Alert for winter storm Thursday and Friday; Bitter cold for Christmas

Airlines are all hands on deck for the next few days, advising travelers who are flying out Thursday or Friday to come to the airport three, even four hours before their flight.

Click here for the full story

By Ali Bauman
 

Gov. Murphy warns about potential power outages in New Jersey

The Tri-State Area is dealing with heavy rain and strong winds, but this storm could get a whole lot worse Thursday night into Friday.

The rain was making driving difficult during the afternoon, but it's what is expected later in the evening that has a lot of people concerned.

Gov. Phil Murphy said the Department of Transportation is pre-positioning equipment and some residents could experience power outages.

Click here for the full story

By Christine Sloan
 

Hochul declares state of emergency

By CBS New York Team
 

Airport officials say arrive early, don't miss flights

Holiday travel, winter storm make for double-whammy at area airports

Travel delays are mounting and the hardest impact may be on those flying out days before Christmas as a winter storm moves into the Tri-State Area.

Airport officials are urging people to arrive early and warning them not to miss their flights - or they may not be able to get to their destinations.

Plus, AAA expects traffic on New York's busiest roads to be double the usual amount Friday as commuters mix with holiday travelers. 

Click here for the full story. 

By Zinnia Maldonado
 

First Alert forecast: 12 p.m. Thursday

First Alert Weather: Storm makes its way into our area

CBS2's Elise Finch has the latest weather forecast as the storm makes its way into our area.

By Elise Finch
 

Best and worst times to travel

Millions of Americans traveling for the holidays

"It's going to be very busy," AAA Northeast's Senior Manager of Public Affairs Robert Sinclair Jr. told CBS2. "More than 112 million traveling, 90% of those will be driving to their destinations. Overall total is 3% from last year. Seven million will be flying, and 3.6 million will take some other form of transportation, like a cruise ship, train or a bus."

He said the worst time to travel will be early in the mornings before noon. 

"No matter what day you choose to travel, if you make it earlier -- the earlier, the better -- you'll be able to avoid a lot of traffic," Sinclair said.

Friday will of course be one of the worst days to travel, particularly from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. On the backend, Dec. 27 and 28 as well as Jan. 2 will be jammed up. 

If your plans are flexible, the holidays themselves - Christmas Day and New Year's Day -- should be smoother.

Watch his full interview above for more advice.

By CBS New York Team
 

Latest track and timing

Red Alert: Heavy rain and wind are expected Thursday afternoon through early Saturday morning before arctic cold settles in for the holiday weekend. Some light snow is possible, as well.  

CBS2

Timeline

12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday: Rain arrives, some snow north. Moderate to heavy rain for some.

6 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday: Heavy bouts of rain, winds start to kick up after 8 p.m. Rain shuts off early Friday morning.   

6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday: This is the window for potential coastal issues. We have to watch the high tide cycles for some flooding. In the same timeframe, temperatures will crash after the squall line passes. Looking like a mid-morning trek across the area with a quick hit of additional rain/snow to finish. 

12 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday: Precipitation clears the east end around 2 p.m.. Then, it's all about the cold rushing in. Wind chills are potentially dangerous by Saturday morning. 

Watches & Warnings

CBS2

Flood Watch: Thursday night through Friday night for inland areas that will see excessive rainfall combined with snowmelt.

CBS2

Coastal Flood Warning: 5 a.m. Friday through 1 a.m. Saturday for potentially major local flooding, depending on wind. One to 2 feet expected, 3 feet locally, with above ground inundation possible. The best bet is in the back bays of Queens, south-facing shores and along the Long Island Sound.

CBS2

Wind Advisory: 10 p.m. Thursday through 10 p.m. Friday for wind gusts up to 55 mph. We could have power problems, as well as knock-around scattered tree limbs. The strongest winds will be from New York City and areas east. Winds are also pretty stiff from the west -- 20-30 mph through Saturday.

CBS2

Snow: Some snow is likely Friday well north (Sullivan and Ulster counties early on, then the rain overwhelms). We are looking at another burst of snow as the squall line passes around mid-morning Friday, with a little accumulation possible. The bigger story here is the little burst of snow opens the door to the blast of Arctic air. 

CBS2

Cold/Flash Freeze: Potentially dangerous cold rushes in Friday afternoon and bottoms out Saturday morning with temperatures in the single digits and teens across the area. Factor in the wind chill and it will feel sub-zero for some of the northern zones. Temperatures will be in the 50s early Friday, before crashing by midday.

Temperature timeline:

  • 6 a.m. -- 51 degrees
  • 9 a.m. -- 46 degrees
  • 12 p.m. -- 35 degrees
  • 5 p.m. -- 28 degrees
  • 11 p.m. -- 18 degrees
  • 6 a.m. Saturday -- 15 degrees

Stick with the CBS2 Weather Team for the latest forecast and storm alerts.

By Giorgio Panetta
 

Winter storm threatens holiday travel across U.S.

Winter storm threatens holiday travel

The powerful winter storm is jeopardizing travel plans for millions across the country. Around 190 million people are under some type of winter weather advisory, according to the National Weather Service. 

Multiple airlines, including Delta, United and Frontier, are waiving change fees and offering travelers the option of choosing new flights to avoid the bad weather. 

Southwest canceled 500 of its 4,000 scheduled flights for Thursday and Friday. American Airlines is operating in all-hands-on-deck mode to get customers to their destinations. 

Travel experts urge folks to adjust their plans as early as possible, because reaching airlines over the next few days is expected to be difficult. 

"Try taking advantage of alternate ways to contact the airline, aside from just calling. Many airlines now have text and Twitter lines that will be much faster," Jonathan Friedman, with Ovation Travel Group, told CBS2.

Train travelers are also bracing for issues. On Wednesday, Amtrak canceled train service on roughly 30 routes, some all the way through Christmas.

If you're driving Friday, AAA expects traffic on New York's busiest roads to be double the usual amount, as commuters mix with holiday travelers. 

"You can anticipate a lot of company, and if the weather's going to be bad, makes it even worse," said Robert Sinclair Jr. 

Reminder, travel experts say if an airline cancels your flight, you have the right to a full refund -- not just credits for future travel. 

By Zinnia Maldonado
 

Bracing for bitter cold

Safety tips for preparing yourself and your home for cold weather

Temperatures will fall by more than 40 degrees Friday. Wind chills will land in the single digits and lower. 

As CBS2's Vanessa Murdock reports, it's time to mentally and physically prepare yourself and your home.   

CLICK HERE for her full report.

By CBS New York Team
 

Take it easy on the roads

If you're hitting the road, be sure you keep the gas tank full and have a GoKit in the trunk. Your kit should include cold weather essentials, as black ice becomes a real possibility Friday night: 

  • A blanket 
  • Extra clothes 
  • Antifreeze 
  • Shovel 
  • Scraper
  • Kitty litter, an inexpensive way to get traction in snow and ice 

We also heard from the experts about how to drive in those icy conditions

By CBS New York Team
 

Live radar and maps

CLICK HERE to see the very latest track of the storm.  

By CBS New York Team
 

Be prepared before the storm

Our Winter Storm Survival Guide has information about how to protect yourself, your pets and your property in the event of a storm. 

CLICK HERE for everything from travel delays to power outages and more.

By CBS New York Team
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