In case you haven't been outside today, NYC is under a high wind advisory until 7 p.m., with west winds 25 to 35 MPH and winds gusts up to 60 MPH expected. The National Weather Service warns, "damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles." In other words, The Happening...is happening?
As you can see in the video above, a tree was uprooted and "crushed a bench and car" by Prospect Park this afternoon. A fallen tree in the Bronx has caused 5 train service to be suspended between E 180 Street and Eastchester-Dyre. The NYC Ferry, Rockaway Route has been suspended until further notice because of the wind. There is a "soft ban" on empty tractor trailers, tandem trailers, piggyback trailers, dual/multiple trailers, & oversized vehicles is in effect until 7 p.m. for the Whitestone, Throgs Neck, RFK, & Verrazzano Bridges. And there are reports of two and a half hour delays at LaGuardia Airport.
Over in Bed-Stuy, roofing debris fell from the top of a building by the A/C subway station at Bedford Avenue and Fulton Street. "It was very windy the whole time I was there," said Muhammad Rahman, who captured the photos below. "The firefighters had to hold onto their helmets occasionally to bear with the wind." Nobody was injured, according to the FDNY workers at the scene.
The Department of Buildings released a statement reminding "all builders, contractors, crane operators, and property owners" to secure their construction sites, buildings, and equipment, and warning of random spot-check inspections of construction sites today. We've reached out to the DOB for more info about fallen debris around the city.
In the meantime, secure any head gear, don't stare too long at the psychedelic wind gust map, and consider getting that bread and milk on the way home.
