Nonstop Rain Prompts Coastal Flood Warnings
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Rain soaked the Tri-State Area for much of the day, bringing a threat of flooding for coastal areas.
As CBS2's Lonnie Quinn reported, a coastal flood warning was issued until 1 a.m. for Brooklyn, southern Queens, southern Nassau County, and the counties along the Jersey Shore. Shoreline areas in northern Nassau County, much of Suffolk County, southern Connecticut, Westchester County and Staten Island were placed under a coastal flood advisory.
Rainfall totals as of 6 p.m. Friday hit .54 inches in New York City. The highest total was seen in Shirley, Long Island with .87 inches, and Monmouth Beach, New Jersey hit .8 inches.
In addition to the heavy rainfall, winds were coming in off the water, and tides on Friday night were expected to be 1 to 2 feet above astronomical tide heights.
Wind associated with the rain was partially to blame for a massive downed tree in Newark. The tree came crashing down onto a car around 8:30 a.m. Friday on Elmwood Avenue.
Fire officials at the scene said the waterlogged ground and steady winds likely caused the rotted tree to fall.
Neighbors said they were lucky there wasn't more damage.
"Usually, my wife will be parked right there, but what happened last night, I told her, 'Why don't you pull in the driveway?'" said Henry Davis. "And good thing she did or our car would be gone."
"The tree had been sitting there for years -- we've been here for 10 years -- and the tree always was kind of leaning," said Katrina Davis. "We knew something was going to happen."
No one was injured in the incident. The tree had been resting on power lines, but did not affect service.
The clouds also brought delays to Newark Liberty and John F. Kennedy international airports Friday afternoon.
But there is a literal light at the end of the tunnel. After days of nothing but clouds, Quinn said there will be spots of sun on Saturday.
