Water mains break as record-setting cold hits New York area
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (WABC) -- New York and New Jersey were struggling Friday with the effects of extreme cold that led to broken water mains and power outages.
Con Edison spent the day on the scene of a power outage that affected about 650 customers in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, which New York City officials notified the public about around 8:30 a.m. Con Ed spokesman Sidney Alvarez said several crews were responding to the affected buildings on 30th Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues. The outage began at about 7 a.m. Power was restored to the area just before 5 p.m.
New York City was inundated with 311 calls about lack of heat and hot water - about three times the normal amount of calls - and had hired extra staff to handle complaints. City homeless services workers were busy bringing people from the street to warmer locations.
It was 2 degrees in Central Park early Friday, which is a record for Feb. 20. Records were also set at LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark airports, as well as in Islip and Bridgeport. Air travelers were urged to check with individual carriers due to the threat of flight delays.
AccuWeather warned of wind chills at 10 to 20 degrees below zero, with wind gusts up to 30 mph. A wind chill advisory was in effect, prompting some schools to delaying their start times.
Saturday's temperature is forecast to be back up to 32 degrees, with 1 to 3 inches of snow possible in southern and coastal New Jersey. That number jumps to as high as 6 inches in the northwest.
Alternate side parking was suspended through the weekend, but meter rules are in effect. Ferry services were running, but there were delays due to ice.
In New Jersey, a 12-inch water main ruptured in Jersey City, clogging traffic through the busy Tonnelle Circle. The break at the intersection of Tonnelle Avenue and Carlton Avenue closed northbound lanes. United Water confirmed repairs were completed by 1:30 p.m. and service restored. However, at 9 p.m., that stretch of Tonnelle Avenue northbound will be shut down again to facilitate permanent repairs overnight, which should be completed by 9 a.m. Saturday.
Another water main break in Englewood closed South Dean and Honeck streets, according to the Englewood Police Department. It was repaired by 11 a.m.
In Rochelle Park, there was a water main break at Dorothy and Pleasant avenues causing service disruption.
Additionally, there was an accident at the intersection of Route 440 at Truck Routes 1/9.
In Westchester, around 7:30 a.m. Friday, a man was found dead apparently from hypothermia in the parking lot of Corpus Christi-Holy Rosary School on South Regent Street in Port Chester. Upon arrival, patrol units and EMS personnel discovered the partially-clothed body of 31-year-old Emery Stewart, of Rye. There were no outward signs of violence, and Stewart was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police found a 50-foot trail of clothing leading to the body. In some cases, hypothermia can cause a person to strip their clothes off.
The case is under investigation.
