High Wind — Southwest Suffolk, New York

1996-10-19 · Southwest Suffolk, New York

Wider weather episode

On Friday October 18th, a strong low pressure system developed on a cold front over the DelMarVa Peninsula. With a high pressure system in place across Northern New England, the low intensified as it moved slowly off the Southern New Jersey Coast on Saturday, the 19th.As the difference in pressures increased, strong gusty east winds developed across the region by Saturday morning. High winds combined with torrential rain to down numerous trees and power lines. In Nassau County, several trees were downed from high winds in Syosset. In Staten Island, high winds downed power lines that trapped people in their cars. In addition, Bayonne Bridge was closed due to high winds. In the Bronx, high winds ripped off the surface of the roof on Building 13 in Co-op City.High winds that downed trees were directly responsible for 3 deaths:In Babylon (Southwest Suffolk County), a huge tree snapped in the wind and fell diagonally across a street. The tree fell on and crushed a 12 year old boy.In Southern Westchester County: In Hasting-On-Hudson, a man died when a tree fell onto his car while driving along Rte. 9. In Hawthorne, another man died when a tree fell onto his car while driving on the Saw Mill Parkway.Here are selected peak wind gusts for:Northwest Suffolk County: 63 mph at Rocky Point.Southwest Suffolk County: 81 mph at Fire Island.Southeast Suffolk County: 92 mph at the United States Coast Guard Station at Shinnecock.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5582252. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.