New York City is experiencing a bitterly cold and windy start to the week, with wind gusts reaching up to 60 mph and hundreds of reports of downed trees. The Wind Advisory remains in effect through Monday, and certain vehicles—including tractor-trailers, motorcycles, and minibuses—are banned from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge due to dangerous wind conditions.
High Winds & Bitter Cold Grip NYC
🌬 Wind Conditions:
- Wind Advisory: Gusts up to 50 mph throughout NYC.
- High Wind Warning: Sullivan and Ulster Counties could see gusts up to 60 mph.
- Feels Like: The cold air mass will make it feel like the teens during the day.
- Wind Chills: Expect single-digit to sub-zero wind chills by Monday night.
Tuesday & Wednesday: More Cold, But Less Wind
Tuesday:
- Another frigid day, with wind chills in the teens.
- Skies will clear, so sunglasses will be needed.
Wednesday:
- Winds finally weaken, but temperatures will still feel like the 20s at best.
Thursday: Potential for Snow?
A coastal low system is expected to pass south and east of the city on Thursday. While models have backed off on major snowfall predictions, meteorologists warn that changes are still possible.
“We’re not letting our guard down just yet.”
Trees Down Across NYC – Homes & Cars Damaged
By 10 a.m. Monday, nearly 200 incidents of downed trees were reported in New York City.
Frightening Close Call in Queens
A massive tree crashed through a family’s home on 90th Avenue, smashing into an upstairs bedroom.
“Very shocking. Looked like a very strong tree,” said resident Mohammed Islam.
Middle Village – Car Crushed by Tree
Natalie Kempijan woke up to a loud crash only to discover a tree had completely uprooted and fallen onto her parked car.
“At first, I thought it was a car crash. Then I looked outside and realized—it was my car!”
Despite the damage, she’s relieved no one was hurt:
“It’s OK. It’s just a car. I’m more sad for the tree. These things are hard to replace.”
What To Do If You See an Unstable Tree
Report it to 311 if you see a tree that:
- Looks unstable
- Has already started uprooting
- Shows signs of damage from the wind
Crews are working around the clock, but the damage left behind could take weeks to repair.
