New York City mayor issues travel advisory over expected heavy rains, flooding

New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a travel advisory Saturday as heavy rains are expected and flooding may occur Sunday and Monday.

“Hey New Yorkers, it’s nice out today but don’t let it fool you. We’re going to have some heavy rain and winds Sunday into Monday,” Adams said in a video. “It may impact our commute. City agencies are working hard to be prepared. We’re coordinating but we need you to do your part because we may have flooding on the coastal areas in Jamaica Bay.”

Adams asked people to stay home Sunday night and if they must travel, they should exercise caution and be prepared for delays.

He also told New Yorkers to look at catch basins in their neighborhoods and to clean out any debris that would block water from properly draining, along with securing anything that could blow away in the strong winds. People who live in flood-prone areas should take steps to protect their homes, he said.

The National Weather Service office in New York said up to four inches of rain is likely late Sunday night into Monday morning. Urban areas that have poor damage might have threats of flash flooding.

Wind gusts are expected to be 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph for the coast, which may impact trees and power lines.

“With significant rainfall and high winds predicted for this Sunday into Monday, we want to remind New Yorkers to be alert, keep checking the forecast, and stay prepared,” Adams posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Adams said people can sign up for alerts and advice on how they can navigate the storm.

The travel advisory comes nearly three months after the New York area saw extreme rainfall and flooding. More than 4 inches of rain fell in three hours and caused flooding that closed roads, disrupted the subway service and flights and flooded basements in the area.