NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Tropical Storm Debby is expected to slam New York state with heavy rain and winds on Friday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday as she warned of “cataclysmic” rainfall rates, especially towards the Catskills and further upstate.
On-and-off rain showers will continue Thursday night ahead of Debby’s arrival. According to AccuWeather, there may be a dry period Friday, especially early on, before the heavier rain and storms arrive by evening.
While the heaviest rain is expected upstate, the New York City area is at risk of thunderstorms, isolated tornadoes and 45 mph wind gusts, especially at the South Shore of Long Island. Flooding is also a concern given that the area is already saturated from this week’s earlier rain, which dropped more than 5 inches of rain in parts of New Jersey and the Bronx. Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed on Tuesday, and it looks like travel issues may plague the area airports again on Friday.
Hochul said she’d taken a number of steps to prepare for Debby, including activating 100 National Guard members, as well as over 5,500 utility personnel for statewide deployment.
“I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but the forecast shows us that Tropical Storm Debby is about to lead to massive downfalls of rainfall all over the State of New York,” the governor said at a briefing Thursday.
“We're expecting that starting tonight, significant rainfall that'll lead to flash flooding,” she said. “It begins tonight and intensifies Friday, continues into Saturday. We expect up to 6 inches of rain in some parts of our state. That'll mean 2 inches per hour, which is fairly cataclysmic.”
The governor said Debby is expected to merge with another storm system midday Friday, with the heaviest rain totals forecasted for the southern Adirondacks, eastern Catskills and Central New York.
With dangerous flooding the biggest concern, state agencies are readying swift water rescue teams and releasing water from some upstate reservoirs.
“We have to be ready to rescue people,” Hochul said, warning drivers could be “swept away” by the floodwaters. Last December, a woman was killed when her vehicle was washed into a creek near the Catskills.
“It does not take much rain to literally turn your vehicle into a boat floating down a river, sometimes at rapid rates,” Hochul said. “So make sure you're ready if you're in a flood prone area, stay out of your vehicles if you can, that's my best advice, during the intense periods.”
After Debby passes through the Tri-State, Saturday will be breezy and sunny with lower humidity. The high will be 83. Sunday will have similarly pleasant weather, with a high of 81, according to AccuWeather.