A nor'easter bearing 55 mph wind gusts and the threat of coastal flooding is set to hit Rye starting Friday, Sept. 25, and lasting through Sunday, Sept. 27.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a wind advisory running from 2 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Sunday, with sustained north winds of 20–25 mph.
A coastal flood warning is also in effect for southern Westchester County through Sunday, with 2–3 feet of water inundation expected in vulnerable waterfront areas during high tide, News 12 Hudson Valley reported.
The storm arrives less than two weeks after Rye saw more than 3 inches of rain on Sept. 13, flooding low-lying roads and disabling four vehicles. Several roads remained impassable into that afternoon, according to Rye police.
High tides around 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. over the weekend could combine with the wind to worsen flooding, according to the city's storm alert. Rain totals could reach 1 to 1.5 inches, with the worst conditions expected Saturday evening into Sunday afternoon, according to News 12.
Westchester County Government warned Friday, Sept. 25, that Sound Shore communities, which include Rye, should prepare for moderate coastal flooding. The county said the combination of heavy rain, strong winds, high tides and a full moon could raise the flood risk in low-lying coastal areas.
City response
The Rye Police Department said it will have additional personnel available if conditions require a response. At a special City Council meeting Thursday, Sept. 24, Mayor Josh Nathan said the city is ready, citing the planned use of drones and rescue boats.
Assistant City Manager John Sullivan said at the same meeting that officials would actively update residents through social media and the CodeRED emergency alert program. "We're really looking closely at this one," Sullivan told the Rye Record at the Sept. 24 meeting. "We want to put out messaging, but we also want to put out the right messaging."
What residents should do
The city is advising residents to secure or bring inside outdoor furniture, garbage cans and other loose items that could blow away. Residents should stay away from downed power lines and never attempt to drive over a downed wire.
For emergencies, call 911. The Rye Police Department's non-emergency line is 914-967-1234. Residents can monitor power outages on Con Edison's outage map at outagemap.coned.com and sign up for CodeRED alerts through the Rye Police Department's portal.
