New York Weather: High Wind Threatens UES Scaffolding, Takes Down Trees And Power Lines Across Tri-State
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – High winds that whipped through the Tri-State Area created hazardous conditions on Monday.
A 12-story scaffolding at 71st Street and Fifth Avenue became detached from a building, according to the FDNY.
Firefighters were able to secure the scaffolding with wire and rope but said that danger remained due to winds.
View From The Scene Of Scaffolding
No injuries were reported. Authorities have shut down Fifth Avenue from 79th Street to 71st Street, CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported.
"Units got here. They knew immediately it was an extremely dangerous condition. The height of the building, the scaffold was pulling away and actually had broken away and pulling some of the cornice off of the top of the building," said FDNY Manhattan Borough Commander Roger Sakowitch.
A high wind warning is in effect for much of the Tri-State Area until 6 p.m. Monday. Gusts up to 65 mile per hour are possible throughout the day.
FDNY News Update On Hanging Scaffolding
Strong gusts knocked over a light post on 34th Street and 10th Avenue. Fierce winds were blamed for blowing out a window at 50th Street and Ninth Avenue, prompting the closure of the street below.
WEATHER: CBS2's Latest Conditions & Forecast
"Crazy. I can't even open my eyes. It's just crazy," one man told Sanchez.
"It could be better, but, you know, it's February," one woman said.
As of 6 a.m., nearly 10,000 customers were without power across the area.
Reporting Power Outages
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Watch: CBS2's Hazel Sanchez Literally Gets Blown Off Her Feet In The High Winds
Around The Area
Trucks were banned from the Whitestone Bridge and were ordered to pull over bringing traffic to a crawl.
Airports struggled to stay on schedule. At LaGuardia Airport, the winds were strong enough to force a ground stop.
In Queens, a tree came down onto a home in Saint Albans. No injuries were reported.
Another tree feel across Soundview Drive in Kings Park, Long Island, bringing down wires and sparking a fire on a front lawn.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has activated more National Guard members to help with any storm cleanup, and the state's emergency operation center is activated.
In New Jersey, high winds brought down a power line Saddle River, N.J.
A utility pole also forced street closures in Bayonne due to a downed utility pole.
