Mild weather in New York area this weekend before heavy rain, storms Monday
The New York area is in for a mild weekend before the weather takes a turn to start the work week.
Due to high winds, the MTA is banning empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks on the Bronx-Whitestone, Cross Bay, Henry Hudson, Marine Parkway, Robert F. Kennedy, Throgs Neck and Verrazzano-Narrows bridges from 4 p.m. Sunday through 12 a.m. Monday.
The ban will then go back into effect from 4 p.m. Monday until 12 a.m. Tuesday.
As a potent cold front approaches the Tri-State Area, conditions will rapidly go downhill in a hurry once Monday rolls around.
Stormy weather Monday
The CBS News New York Weather Team has declared a First Alert Weather Day due to likely periods of heavy rain, along with strong winds.
Wind gusts could approach 60 mph, especially at the coast. This may contribute to coastal flooding along Long Island's South Shore as strong southerly winds pile water onshore.
Embedded within the heavy rain could be strong to severe thunderstorms. The storms could contain damaging winds and torrential downpours. Flash flooding is definitely a concern, given that 1-2 inches of rain may fall. Locally higher amounts are possible as well.
Highs on Monday will be very mild, topping out in the 60s, but as the cold front eventually passes through on Monday night, the rain could end as a period of light snow.
A chill on St. Patrick's Day
That sets us up for a cold and blustery St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday in which highs will only reach the low 40s.
