Watch CBS News

Whipping Winds, Bitter Cold Hits Tri-State Area

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Tri-State area is dealing with whipping winds and bitter cold Monday as temperatures feel like it's in the 20s in some spots.

Wind advisories are in effect for New York City and Long Island until 10 p.m. Monday and until 6 p.m. for areas farther north and west.

CHECK: Forecast & Alerts

In the city, forecasters say wind gusts could hit up to 50 mph. The National Weather Service is also anticipating scattered power outages as the wind is expected to down some tree limbs.

Already on Long Island, strong gusts toppled trees and ripped down power lines while on the Upper West Side, the wind caused a tree to crash down onto the roof of a van parked on West 88th Street.

treedown

In Union City, New Jersey, branches snapped onto a deck on Union Avenue.

Facing the bitter blast, commuters  earlier Monday morning at the Mineola train station were bundled up and hunkered down.

"The wind right over here just whips right up the tracks, so it's terrible," commuter Tom Fogarty told CBS2's Magdalena Doris. "Pretty cold."

Remnants of an early morning snowfall still sat atop the Long Island Rail Road trains. The frosty flakes overnight were a welcome sight for some.

"My wife is a Christmas freak," said Shawn Swift of Mineola. "She started going bonkers last night when it started snowing. It was the perfect end to the weekend for her."

But it was a rough way to start the week for Christopher Grant of Garden City. He was daydreaming of happier, warmer times.

"Mentally, I'm there in Tampa," he said.

Actually flying to Florida might be tough. Air traffic hit a snag Monday when flights were delayed at LaGuardia with gusty weather making for dangerous flight conditions.

Monday night is expected to stay windy and cold. Forecasters are calling for sunshine mixing with clouds on Tuesday along with a chilly and gusty breeze.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.