High tide brought serious coastal flooding to New York Harbor Friday morning, with reports indicating neighborhoods on Jamaica Bay seeing their worst inundations since Sandy. Impact on the Hudson was much less dramatic, though high tide was still visibly above normal and some areas of Riverside Park South and Hudson River Park saw water where it does not normally reach. Flood waters receded with the ebb tide by 11am, but then gale warnings went into effect as winds picked up and a storm came through from the southwest, bringing heavy rain and even a bit of snow, with winds gusting to over 40 MPH. Temperatures are set to plunge sharply as we move into evening, falling into teens from over 50 in the morning. The North River anchorages were crowded Friday morning, but traffic continued to move through the rough afternoon conditions.

HOS Browning, a survey ship involved in wind turbine work offshore, remained anchored off 72nd and may be intending to remain through the Christmas weekend, as she did over July 4th weekend. There were two Norwegian cruise ships at the cruise terminal Friday, with Gem seemingly having delayed her departure for the Caribbean after arriving from Europe the day before, and Getaway scheduled to leave Friday night.

This will be the final installment of North River Notes for 2022. Best wishes to all for a happy end to the year!