New Yorkers should brace for impact on Monday as winds are expected to be so strong they could blow people off their feet, according to the National Weather Service.
Wind gusts across the five boroughs are expected to exceed 50 mph, with sustained speeds up 30 mph, said NWS meteorologist Brian Ciemnecki.
The NWS expects wind speeds in the city to hit 25 mph Sunday evening, with gusts of up to 30 mph. But Ciemnecki said the gales will “kick up a notch” on Monday — and warned New Yorkers to not be caught off guard.
“If you’re not prepared for it, it could kind of knock you sideways a little bit,” said Ciemnecki. “Be prepared to walk out and, you know, if you’re wearing a hat, they blow off.”
The wind also risks blowing over trucks in some areas of the city, prompting the MTA to ban empty tractor-trailers and all tandem trucks on its seven bridges from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday.
Pedestrian walkways at the Cross Bay Bridge and Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge will also be closed during the same period, according to the MTA.
The blustery weather comes after a weekend of heavy rain, with much of the city being drenched in 1.5 to 2 inches of water Saturday night into early Sunday morning. Roughly 12% of flights into or out of JFK Airport were delayed at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, according to data from FlightAware.
Ciemnecki also said winds are expected to make it feel colder outside Monday. Temperatures are forecast to reach the upper 40s, but he said it will feel like it’s in the lower to mid-30s when the gusts are blowing.
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