High winds, heavy rains wreak havoc on Hudson Valley morning

Staff reports
Updated ·3 min read
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Heavy rains, high winds and thunderstorms slammed the Lower Hudson Valley overnight into Monday morning causing some flooding and closures throughout the region.

By 9:30 a.m., the worst weather was gone, leaving flooding and downed trees and power lines in its wake.

According to the National Weather Service, our region received up to 4.69 inches of rain, with that highest total being recorded in Spring Valley, with Suffern (4.51 inches) and Montebello (4.01) also receiving significant rainfall. In Westchester, the highest measured rainfall total was 3.92 inches in Tarrytown. Wind gusts throughout the region ranged from 43 to 65 mph, according to the service.

A pedestrian walks through heavy rain and wind on route 9 in Tarrytown Monday morning. The intense storm battered much of the East Coast.
A pedestrian walks through heavy rain and wind on route 9 in Tarrytown Monday morning. The intense storm battered much of the East Coast.

Rain was forecasted to continue through mid-day, according to the National Weather Service, with a coastal flood warning in effect until 6 p.m. Monday and a flood watch until 5 p.m.

According to Con-Edison's outage map, there were 359 outages today, leaving around 11,000 customers without power at the moment. NYSEG reported 127 outages in Putnam and Westchester, leaving around 7,400 people without power.

Orange & Rockland Utilities reported 2,977 customers without power in Rockland as of 11:30 a.m.

Some towns that are most at risk for flooding like the Town and Village of Mamaroneck, were spared from the damage.

"Thankfully from the municipal perspective, we weren’t hit too hard,” Mamaroneck Town administrator Meredith Robson said. "We did have some wet roads but they weren't closed for too long."

All roads in the village, and many others across the area, have since been opened.

The storm was more severe than anticipated, leaving many school districts to call last-minute one- or two-hour delays this morning.

Workers clear debris from a tree that fell on a car on Stanley Ave. in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Dec. 18, 2023 after heavy rains and winds caused flooding and power outages throughout the area. The intense storm battered much of the East Coast.
Workers clear debris from a tree that fell on a car on Stanley Ave. in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Dec. 18, 2023 after heavy rains and winds caused flooding and power outages throughout the area. The intense storm battered much of the East Coast.

By 7 a.m., several districts were closing for the day, citing power outages and road conditions. Closed school districts include:

  • Bedford

  • Brewster

  • Byram Hills

  • Carmel

  • Croton-Harmon

  • Hastings-on-Hudson

  • Hendrick Hudson

  • Katonah Lewisboro

  • Lakeland

  • Mahopac

  • Ossining

  • Peekskill

  • Putnam Valley

  • Somers

  • Suffern

  • Yonkers

  • Yorktown

Some schools are also seeing extensive staff absences as people can't make it to work.

The New York State Mesonet, which collects weather readings from stations across the state and compiles them at the University at Albany, tracked the heaviest rain totals at four of its locations in the Lower Hudson Valley.

From 8 p.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Monday:

  • Suffern: 4.22 inches

  • Warwick: 3.75 inches

  • Beacon: 3.07 inches

  • Brewster: 2.98 inches

Cars drive through heavy rain and wind as they approach Tarrytown from the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge Monday morning. The intense storm battered much of the East Coast.
Cars drive through heavy rain and wind as they approach Tarrytown from the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge Monday morning. The intense storm battered much of the East Coast.

Road closures

Road closures dotted the area Monday morning. In Westchester, parts of several major parkways were closed because of flooding.

But all roads that were closed on Monday had fully reopened by Tuesday morning as flood waters receded.

The Bronx River Parkway was closed from the Sprain Brook Parkway split in Yonkers to Main Street in White Plains.

Westchester County Police say the Hutchinson River Parkway experienced ponding and closed the northbound left lanes at Boston Post Road and Mill Road.

The Saw Mill River Parkway experienced multiple closures, including between exit 21 and exit 26 in both directions.

In Rockland, the Palisades Interstate Parkway was closed at the border of Spring Valley and Nanuet near Pascack Rd. Route 59 in West Nyack in front of the Palisades Center, parts of Route 303 and the causeway between New City and Congers had also flooded.

Rockland County officials urged residents to stay home “if able.”

“Please refrain from an unnecessary travel at this time,” Clarkstown police posted on Facebook.

A portion of Route 121 is closed due to flooding just south of Rt. 116 in North Salem Dec. 18, 2023.
A portion of Route 121 is closed due to flooding just south of Rt. 116 in North Salem Dec. 18, 2023.

Rockland’s Fire & Emergency Services Department reported flooding and trees down on several roadways. Power outages were also reported throughout town.

“As the storm continues, we encourage residents to report any issues with road conditions or any other storm-related concerns to proper authorities,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day. “We extend our sincere appreciation to the public works staff, emergency responders, and road maintenance teams who always go above and beyond during challenging periods like these for the safety and wellbeing of our residents.”

Route 202 in Viola and other roads in Ramapo had closed for flooding in the early morning.

A truck backs up after a tree fell across Lake Street in North Salem during heavy rain and wind Dec. 18, 2023.
A truck backs up after a tree fell across Lake Street in North Salem during heavy rain and wind Dec. 18, 2023.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Heavy rain, winds cause some outages and closures