'Major Flooding Possible' LI Sound Coastal Flood Watch

Long Island Sound Shore, NY — The strong coastal storm that will bring substantial snow to parts of the region starting Sunday night will also bring the prospect of major to moderate coastal flooding for parts of the Long Island Sound Shore, including southern Westchester, parts of Long Island, New York City and coastal Connecticut, according to a National Weather Service coastal storm watch.

The coastal flood watch is in effect from late Sunday night through Monday afternoon.

Two to three feet of seawater inundation above ground level is possible in vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline, according to the forecast. Breaking waves of four to six feet are expected and will likely result in beach erosion, wave splashover onto shoreline streets and properties and minor damage possible to shorefront structures, according to forecasters.

Widespread moderate to locally major flooding of vulnerable areas is possible near the waterfront and shoreline, including roads, parking lots, parks, lawns and homes and businesses with basements near the waterfront.

Road closures are possible. Vehicles parked in vulnerable areas near the waterfront may become flooded and should be moved.

The weather service said flooding will also extend inland from the waterfront along tidal rivers and bays.

If travel is required, those in the affected areas should allow extra time as some roads may be closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions now to protect flood-prone property.

In Connecticut, the watch includes Southern Fairfield, Southern New London, Southern New Haven and Southern Middlesex Counties. In New York, the watch covers the entire Westchester shoreline, the Bronx, Northern Nassau, Northern Queens and Northwest Suffolk Counties.

In addition to a coastal storm surge, the NWS is predicting around two to six inches of snowfall as well as some ice accumulations for interior portions of the region with the remainder of the region getting mostly rain Sunday night into Monday. The coastal storm will bring around 1" to 1.25" storm total precipitation.

Some of the rain could be heavy at times with minor flooding possible, even away from the shoreline.