PEARL RIVER – Orange & Rockland Utilities is ramping up its company-wide emergency response group to repair possible storm damage and restore electric service outages as needed when Tropical Storm Nicole, packing strong winds and heavy rains, roars through the region Friday evening into early Saturday morning.
The weather forecast is calling for partly cloudy and dry conditions expected through the day Thursday. Clouds will increase Thursday night well ahead of Nicole followed by rain showers developing Friday afternoon across the area.
Rain will become moderate to heavy at times from 7 p.m. Friday – 7 a.m. Saturday as Nicole interacts with a cold front to our west.
Approximately 0.75 – 2.5 inches of rain are likely across the area with isolated higher amounts possible and isolated thunderstorms are also possible 7 p.m. Friday through 3 a.m. Saturday with a low chance for them to become severe during this timeframe.
Widespread strong gusty winds are likely 8 p.m. Friday through 3 a.m. Saturday, especially closer to the coast. In addition, there remains a low chance (<10%) for sustained tropical storm force winds to occur along the immediate coast during this timeframe. The strongest winds will end after 3 a.m. Saturday.
Showers are expected to end by late morning Saturday and temperatures will fall into the 40’s as this system exits to our northeast. Much colder air moves in for the weekend with a chance of showers closer to New York City on Sunday as a disturbance passes off the coast. Partly cloudy conditions take hold for Monday and Tuesday as temperatures remain around 10 degrees below normal.