Updates: Improving conditions ahead after tonight's Jones Beach concert, other events canceled

Improving conditions ahead

Warnings of potential flash floods, severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes coincided with Long Island's Tuesday afternoon commute. But as the evening wore on, it appeared the region would avoid the worst, with improving conditions by Wednesday afternoon, and even some sunshine, according to the latest forecast.

Showers and thunderstorms with the potential "to produce heavy rainfall" were likely overnight into early Wednesday, the National Weather Service said. The high Wednesday should top out about 82 degrees, dropping to 64 in the evening. Read the latest here.

Dave Matthews Band concert at Jones Beach postponed

A Dave Matthews Band concert scheduled for Tuesday night at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater has been postponed because of forecasts of severe thunderstorms, flooding and potential tornadoes, the band announced.

"In consultation with the venue, local and state authorities and an official NWS Tornado watch," the band said in a post on Instagram," we are sorry to report that tonight's show at Jones Beach will be postponed."

Tickets will be honored for the rescheduled concert, which will take place July, 29, the band said in a social media statement.

Nassau County and New York City are under a tornado watch until 9 p.m. Tuesday. The National Weather Service warned of potential flood floods.

Gusts of up to 60 mph could down power lines and trees, particularly in the Huntington Station area, the weather service said in an Tuesday afternoon alert.

What to know about tornadoes and LI

Though they are rare, tornadoes can form on Long Island.

Nassau County and New York City are under a tornado watch until 9 p.m. Tuesday, which means that the weather conditions are right for a potential tornado.

Newsday answers your questions here.

East Hampton village concert canceled over storm concerns

The summer's third installment of the live music series "Tuesdays at Main Beach" in the Village of East Hampton has been canceled because of "the forecast for incoming inclement weather," organizers said on social media.

Each weekly outdoor performance draw thousands to the village beach, according to the village's website.

"While we’re disappointed we won’t be gathering on the beach this evening, the safety of our musicians, volunteers, staff, and guests is our top priority," organizers said in an Instagram post. "We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Main Beach next Tuesday for another great evening of live music by the ocean!"

Hicksville, Huntington Station and Queens under flash flood warning

 A flash flood warning is in effect for Hicksville, Huntington Station and Queens until 7:30 p.m., the National Weather Service said on Tuesday afternoon in a social media post.

The warning said an area with a population of 1,238,630, nine hospitals and 253 schools faces "potential exposure."

People in the area are urged to "move immediately to higher ground!"

Long Island Sound under special marine warning

A Special Marine Warning is in effect until 5:30 p.m. for Long Island Sound waters off eastern Nassau County through Port Jefferson until 5:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service had earlier issued a marine warning for Long Island Sound  to Port Jefferson until 4:45 p.m.

Winds speeds on the Sound of more than 34 knots are possible with the potential for "steep waves," the weather service said in an update.

"Seek safe harbor, "the weather service says on its website. "Take protective actions."

Eye on sky as concerts planned tonight at Jones Beach, Forest Hills

Concertgoers and outdoor venues were “closely monitoring” the weather as storms threatened to increase Tuesday evening.

At the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, Dave Matthews Band was scheduled to perform Tuesday night . Nassau County is under a tornado watch.

Both the band and the venue, operated by Live Nation, said at 3 p.m. that the show planned to go on as they monitored the weather.

Fans can monitor social media or text DMB26 to 516-550-5545.

At Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, Bob Dylan planned to go on stage with Lucinda Williams and Jimmie Vaughan and the Tilt-A-World Band. The concert is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

The venue operators said they were monitoring the weather and would provide updates if there are any cancellations.

MTA's storm plans for LIRR, bridges

The MTA outlined their storm plans for the LIRR and bridges in a press release Tuesday afternoon.

Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad

"The MTA’s commuter railroads are pre-positioning crews and diesel locomotives to be in position to minimize service disruptions.

Starting Tuesday through the end of the event, additional personnel will be added to identify and quickly address possible track, signal, and power challenges caused by flooding, washouts, downed trees and other potential storm damage. Personnel will survey and clear drainage areas where necessary, fortify key locations, and look for trees requiring removal as well as any track structures requiring attention.

Railroad crews have equipment on hand to be able to respond quickly as conditions warrant – chainsaws for clearing downed trees, pumps in the event of flooded areas, and identifying locations and availability of supplies for replacing damaged utility poles and crossing gates.

The railroads have worked aggressively to proactively protect infrastructure, tackling poor drainage locations, improving vegetation management adjacent to tracks, and strengthening and replacing utility poles, among other actions."

MTA Bridges and Tunnels

"Based on the current weather forecast, MTA Bridges and Tunnels will implement a ban on empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks beginning Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. The ban is expected to be in place until at least 10:00 p.m..

Pedestrian walkways at the Cross Bay Bridge, Marine Parkway Bridge, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, and the Henry Hudson Bridge will remain open, but may close depending on wind conditions.

Bridges and Tunnels personnel are checking all flood-prone locations for debris and will continue to monitor them throughout the storm. Personnel will also monitor wind conditions and implement appropriate traffic or speed restrictions, if necessary, while maintenance teams remain on standby to respond to any incidents or emergencies."

Tornado watch for Nassau, NYC until 9 p.m.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch until 9 p.m. for Nassau County. The tornado watch is also in effect for all of NYC, and parts of Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The National Weather Service defiines a tornado watch as: "Be Prepared! Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans, take inventory of your supplies and check your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives! Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur. The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states."

Yankees postpone Tuesday night's game

The Yankees have postponed Tuesday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Yankee Stadium due to the severe storms in the forecast.

The game will be made up Wednesday as part of a split-admission doubleheader.

Those who had tickets to Tuesday night's game can use them only for the Wednesday night game, starting at 7:05 p.m. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m., and the first 18,000 fans in attendance will receive the Aaron Judge Harry Potter Houses bobblehead doll, a promotional giveaway originally planned for Tuesday night.

Paid ticket holders to Tuesday night's game also can exchange their tickets for a similar regular-season home game, subject to availability. See more details at yankees.com/raincheck. 

The start time for Wednesday afternoon's first game has been changed from 1:35 p.m. to 1:05 p.m..

Latest update on flight delays and cancellations

New York airports are warning of delays and cancellations due to the storms Tuesday afternoon that are expected to intensify Tuesday night.

At LaGuardia, delays have increased to 229 flights running late through the day, while cancellations increased slightly to 408, six additional canceled flights compared to the morning.

Kennedy Airport reported 285 flights canceled along with 246 delays.

Newark has had the largest increase in canceled flights, totaling 251 as of 2 p.m. Newark saw more than 50 additional cancellations compared to Tuesday morning.

There were a dozen delayed flights at Long Island MacArthur by midafternoon Tuesday, with only two cancellations for the day, according to FlightAware.

Stay on top of the developing situation by visiting each airport's website:

JFK: https://www.jfkairport.com/

LaGuardia: https://www.laguardiaairport.com/

Newark: https://www.newarkairport.com/

Track the storms with the National Weather Service radar

Keep on top of the fast-moving weather with a look at the National Weather Service radar.

Rip current warning all along the South Shore

A high-risk rip current warning is in effect across the South Shore of Long Island, from Brooklyn to Montauk, through Wednesday evening.

The National Weather Service issued the warning from Brooklyn and Southern Queens to Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“Life-threatening rip currents are likely for all people entering the surf zone,” forecasters said. “Anyone visiting the beaches should stay out of the surf. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.”

Officials said anyone entering the water should have a flotation device and should not swim without lifeguards on duty. If someone is caught in a rip current, lifeguards advise swimming parallel to the shoreline until they can reach shore or be rescued.

LIers react to spate of wild summer weather

Dianna Manno, a Lindenhurst resident visiting Stop & Shop in Amityville, said recent weather patterns have left her concerned.

"I think the world's ending. That's my opinion."

When asked if she was worried about potential rain and flooding, Manno said "No, because I have a special drainage in the basement, so it doesn't flood. If I didn't have it, it would."

Sara Blloshmi, a West Babylon resident and lifeguard at Venetian Shores Park, said this summer's weather has been unusual.

"Yeah, it's crazy. It's summer and it's just cold with the rain all the time. Especially Saturday, I was here and it was just downpouring, the thunder and the lightning."

Regarding the possibility of more storms, Blloshmi said "I'm hoping it's not going to be as bad as it was on Saturday, especially because over here, the water gets in the houses and the roads here. It's hard to even leave, but I'm hoping it's not going to be too bad."

Manhattan, Bronx taking early soaking as Hochul reminds NYers to stay vigilant

A flood advisory is in effect for Manhattan and the Bronx until 2 p.m., with expected flooding due to heavy rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists say between 1 to 2 inches of rain have already fallen in upper Manhattan and Westchester, causing minor flooding. An additional inch of rain is expected.

Long Island is not yet under a flood watch.

Some regions of New York City and parts of Long Island could see between 1 to 2 inches of rain fall per hour, forecasters said. Some parts of New York City could see up to 4 inches of rain.

Gov. Kathy Hochul warned New Yorkers to take caution during the storm, which could cause flash flooding, particularly in low-lying areas.

The strongest storms are expected to arrive Tuesday afternoon through the evening, with thunderstorms that could bring downpours, high winds and a minimal chance of tornadoes and hail, including in Nassau County.

“I am urging all New Yorkers to stay vigilant, stay informed, and use caution as we experience widespread storms this afternoon that can be severe and cause flash flooding,” Hochul said in a statement. “State agencies are ready and mobilized to keep New Yorkers safe, and I encourage everyone to stay weather aware and monitor their local forecast.”

MTA prepping for the deluge

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber announced the MTA is prepositioning equipment and staff ahead of the anticipated heavy downpours Tuesday.

Staff will work to clear drains in problematic areas ahead of time and optimize mobile pumping units and trucks from the city’s 286 pumping stations. Staff will take the mobile pumping units to low drainage areas when they receive notice of water accumulating in those locations, Lieber said.

They will also check and deploy emergency generators at pumping rooms throughout the city. "If electricity goes down at a key facility, we want to make sure that we have the ability to respond promptly," Lieber said.

Staff will also have chain saws on hand in case expected strong winds knock down trees onto tracks.

The announcement comes days after Saturday’s storm caused flooding on major city roadways and in subway stations.

Lieber said the Court Square station in Queens was “retrospectively inadequately prepared for the amount of water” as rain broke the barriers of an ongoing project and “knocked out” the location “for a mess of hours.”

He did not specify if staff planned to set up pumps at Court Square or specific locations but that they will be “ready to go,” as each borough has its own command center.

Lieber said despite MTA pumping tons of water out of the subway system, it can only do so much because city’s sewer system is overwhelmed.

“Priority number one is getting the water out of the system. We do this every day. 13 million gallons of water are removed every day from the subway system through our pumping infrastructure,” Lieber said. “The problem is that storms are getting more frequent and more intense.”

Lieber encouraged riders to pay attention to weather conditions when using the MTA Tuesday, either by using the TrainTime app, signing up for customized service alerts, or looking at traffic website 511NY.org or MTA social media platforms.

Lieber said the MTA is working to alleviate future incidents by elevating vents that lead onto subway platforms, as well as raising steps that meet the sidewalk at subway entrances at more than 100 locations to prevent “Niagara Falls”-like flooding, as seen recently in social media videos.

Flights canceled, delayed at area airports as rain skirts North Shore

Delays and cancellations are starting to mount at the region’s airports due to the incoming storms.

LaGuardia reported 165 delays by 11:30 a.m. and 402 flight cancellations Tuesday. There was 179 flight delays Tuesday at Kennedy Airport and 279 flights canceled.

Newark reported similar delays totaling 184, and 193 cancellations. Long Island MacArthur was largely unaffected, with two flight cancellations reported.

Most of Long Island was expected to see about an inch of rain, with possibly more expected in thunderstorms and downpours.

Rain was starting to move across the North Shore as thunderstorms are expected through Tuesday evening.

A severe thunderstorm and flash flood warning was in effect Tuesday morning in Westchester.

Highest chance of severe storms expected this evening

Meteorologist Brian Ciemnecki said while showers could begin as early as late morning on Tuesday, chances of thunderstorms will increase throughout the day. The highest chance of severe storms will be Tuesday evening, he said.

Long Island can expect up to three quarters to an inch of total rainfall on Tuesday, but localized thunderstorms may produce heavier and higher amounts.

The weather service issued a hazardous weather outlook for the northern part of Long Island due to the potential for flash flooding, the weather service said.

When thunderstorms are severe, they can produce wind gusts as high as 60 mph, which can potentially cause localized tornadoes. Tuesday should see highs in the upper 70s.

In an early briefing on Tuesday the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast a Level 1 marginal risk for severe thunderstorm outlooks for Western Suffolk and the East End and a Level 2 slight risk for New York City and Nassau County.

Ciemnecki said we shouldn’t be scrambling to bunk in tornado shelters — at least on Long Island. The strongest chance of tornadoes in the tristate state area will be in New Jersey, which is under a Level 3, or enhanced chance, according to the NOAA map.

"As you get further east, those chances for the isolated tornadoes diminish, but there's still a threat for a potential tornado," Ciemnecki said. "I'm not saying somewhere on the island is going to get one. I'm just saying we can't rule that threat out."

The same sentiment applies to NOAA’s severe winds prediction map issued for Tuesday, where New Jersey will see wind gusts up to 75 mph but "kind of scales down a bit" as you travel past New York City and Long Island, he said.

In the "worst of it," Long Island should experience wind gusts between 40 to 50 mph, Ciemnecki said.

Dangerous rip currents expected at ocean beaches

Dangerous rip currents are expected at all ocean beaches Tuesday through 8 p.m. Wednesday due to storms in the region.

"If you're out at the area beaches ... obviously you only want to swim with a lifeguard on duty and be extra very careful," Meteorologist Brian Ciemnecki said.

Meanwhile, in Florida...

While Long Island prepares for severe storms, Tropical Storm Bertha has been strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico and was moving slowly toward the Florida Panhandle and Alabama, causing a tropical storm warning and storm surge watches, forecasters said.

The storm was about 110 miles south of Panama City, Florida, and 170 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama, and moving northwest at 5 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph), the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Tuesday morning.

The wind speed increased by 10 mph since Bertha formed Monday night. A tropical storm warning, meaning the conditions are expected within the warning area within 36 hours, was in effect early Tuesday from the Florida and Alabama border to the Jefferson and Plaquemines parish line in Louisiana.

A storm surge watch, indicating rising, possible life-threatening water moving inland from the coast within 48 hours, was issued from the Alabama and Florida border to the mouth of the Mississippi River, the hurricane center reported.

To read more on Tropical Storm Bertha, click here.