Isaias in New York City halts trains, downs trees, kills 1
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio talks with residents about damage from Tropical Storm Isaias on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
A tree uprooted by high winds lays on a fence in Brooklyn Heights Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York as Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to hit the Northeastern U.S. (AP Photo/David Crary)
New York City Police and Parks employees work to remove a person who died when a tree fell on a van as Tropical Storm Isaias moved past New York Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Mayor City Bill de Blasio talks to Christina Mitselos while looking at damage to her home from a trees knocked down by Isaias, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Damage is seen Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 in lower Manhattan as Tropical Storm Isaias moved past New York, producing strong winds that at times caused damage. Barriers that were in front of a building that were meant to block flood waters were picked up and tossed about. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
New York City Police officers shield a person from view who died after a tree fell on a van as Tropical Storm Isaias moved past New York, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
A person lay on a crosswalk after being knocked to the street by wind in lower Manhattan Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, as Tropical Storm Isaias produced strong winds as the storm moved past, at times causing damage. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
A person who was injured while trying to secure barriers meant to block flood waters at a building at Water and State Streets in lower Manhattan is transported after being injured Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. Winds from Tropical Storm Isaias piked up the barriers and tossed them about as the storm moved past at times causing damage. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
People try to secure barriers meant to block flood waters that were picked up by the wind at a building at Water and State Streets in lower Manhattan Tuesday, Aug 4, 2020, as winds from Tropical Storm Isaias piked them up and tossed them about as the storm moved past, producing strong winds that at times causing damage. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
People deal with high winds as they move equipment across Water Street in lower Manhattan Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, as Tropical Storm Isaias moved past New York, producing strong winds that at times caused damage. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
A jogger passes water-filled rubber barricades protecting the South Street Seaport from flooding, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. Heavy rains are falling as Tropical Storm Isaias roars north on the Atlantic Coast, leaving behind power outages and reports of tornadoes. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
A worker passes water-filled rubber barricades protecting the South Street Seaport from flooding, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. Heavy rains are falling as Tropical Storm Isaias roars north on the Atlantic Coast, leaving behind power outages and reports of tornadoes. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
A cyclist passes water-filled rubber barricades protecting the South Street Seaport from flooding as Tropical Storm Isaias roars north on the Atlantic Coast, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio talks with residents about damage from Tropical Storm Isaias on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio talks with residents about damage from Tropical Storm Isaias, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio talks with residents about damage from Tropical Storm Isaias on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio talks with residents about damage from Tropical Storm Isaias on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
A tree uprooted by high winds lays on a fence in Brooklyn Heights Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York as Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to hit the Northeastern U.S. (AP Photo/David Crary)
A tree uprooted by high winds lays on a fence in Brooklyn Heights Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York as Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to hit the Northeastern U.S. (AP Photo/David Crary)
New York City Police and Parks employees work to remove a person who died when a tree fell on a van as Tropical Storm Isaias moved past New York Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York City Police and Parks employees work to remove a person who died when a tree fell on a van as Tropical Storm Isaias moved past New York Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Mayor City Bill de Blasio talks to Christina Mitselos while looking at damage to her home from a trees knocked down by Isaias, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Mayor City Bill de Blasio talks to Christina Mitselos while looking at damage to her home from a trees knocked down by Isaias, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Damage is seen Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 in lower Manhattan as Tropical Storm Isaias moved past New York, producing strong winds that at times caused damage. Barriers that were in front of a building that were meant to block flood waters were picked up and tossed about. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Damage is seen Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 in lower Manhattan as Tropical Storm Isaias moved past New York, producing strong winds that at times caused damage. Barriers that were in front of a building that were meant to block flood waters were picked up and tossed about. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
New York City Police officers shield a person from view who died after a tree fell on a van as Tropical Storm Isaias moved past New York, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York City Police officers shield a person from view who died after a tree fell on a van as Tropical Storm Isaias moved past New York, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
A person lay on a crosswalk after being knocked to the street by wind in lower Manhattan Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, as Tropical Storm Isaias produced strong winds as the storm moved past, at times causing damage. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
A person lay on a crosswalk after being knocked to the street by wind in lower Manhattan Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, as Tropical Storm Isaias produced strong winds as the storm moved past, at times causing damage. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
A person who was injured while trying to secure barriers meant to block flood waters at a building at Water and State Streets in lower Manhattan is transported after being injured Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. Winds from Tropical Storm Isaias piked up the barriers and tossed them about as the storm moved past at times causing damage. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
A person who was injured while trying to secure barriers meant to block flood waters at a building at Water and State Streets in lower Manhattan is transported after being injured Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. Winds from Tropical Storm Isaias piked up the barriers and tossed them about as the storm moved past at times causing damage. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
People try to secure barriers meant to block flood waters that were picked up by the wind at a building at Water and State Streets in lower Manhattan Tuesday, Aug 4, 2020, as winds from Tropical Storm Isaias piked them up and tossed them about as the storm moved past, producing strong winds that at times causing damage. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
People try to secure barriers meant to block flood waters that were picked up by the wind at a building at Water and State Streets in lower Manhattan Tuesday, Aug 4, 2020, as winds from Tropical Storm Isaias piked them up and tossed them about as the storm moved past, producing strong winds that at times causing damage. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
People deal with high winds as they move equipment across Water Street in lower Manhattan Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, as Tropical Storm Isaias moved past New York, producing strong winds that at times caused damage. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
People deal with high winds as they move equipment across Water Street in lower Manhattan Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, as Tropical Storm Isaias moved past New York, producing strong winds that at times caused damage. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
A jogger passes water-filled rubber barricades protecting the South Street Seaport from flooding, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. Heavy rains are falling as Tropical Storm Isaias roars north on the Atlantic Coast, leaving behind power outages and reports of tornadoes. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
A jogger passes water-filled rubber barricades protecting the South Street Seaport from flooding, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. Heavy rains are falling as Tropical Storm Isaias roars north on the Atlantic Coast, leaving behind power outages and reports of tornadoes. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
A worker passes water-filled rubber barricades protecting the South Street Seaport from flooding, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. Heavy rains are falling as Tropical Storm Isaias roars north on the Atlantic Coast, leaving behind power outages and reports of tornadoes. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
A worker passes water-filled rubber barricades protecting the South Street Seaport from flooding, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. Heavy rains are falling as Tropical Storm Isaias roars north on the Atlantic Coast, leaving behind power outages and reports of tornadoes. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
A cyclist passes water-filled rubber barricades protecting the South Street Seaport from flooding as Tropical Storm Isaias roars north on the Atlantic Coast, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
A cyclist passes water-filled rubber barricades protecting the South Street Seaport from flooding as Tropical Storm Isaias roars north on the Atlantic Coast, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio talks with residents about damage from Tropical Storm Isaias on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio talks with residents about damage from Tropical Storm Isaias on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio talks with residents about damage from Tropical Storm Isaias, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio talks with residents about damage from Tropical Storm Isaias, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
NEW YORK (AP) — Tropical Storm Isaias halted commuter trains, closed bridges and sent thousands of tree limbs crashing down Tuesday as it barreled through New York City, leaving more than 2.5 million customers in the tristate area without power.
The fast-moving storm claimed at least one life in New York. Mario Siles, a 60-year-old construction contractor, was sitting in a van parked in the Briarwood section of Queens when a massive Pin Oak came down on top of it around 1 p.m., police said.
By evening, nearly 900,000 homes and businesses in the state were without power, including more than 130,000 in the city and 368,000 on Long Island, utility companies reported. The city’s power utility, Con Edison, said it had more outages from Isaias than from any storm except Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Meteorologists clocked wind gusts as strong as 71 mph (115 kph) in the city and 78 mph (125 kph) on Long Island.
“Unless you absolutely, positively have to be outside, stay inside,” Mayor Bill de Blasio told radio station 1010 WINS. “It’s not a good time to be walking outside. It’s not a good time to be driving outside, if you can avoid it.”
De Blasio said almost 2,000 trees in the city were downed or damaged.
Service was suspended on the Staten Island Ferry for several hours and temporary barriers were set up to protect Wall Street and the famed South Street Seaport from flooding. The storm’s center was about 23 miles (37 kilometers) west of Albany at 5 p.m.
It passed about 60 miles west of New York City near the Pennsylvania-New Jersey at 2 p.m.
Outdoor subway service was stopped because of high winds and debris on tracks. All three commuter train services into and out of Manhattan — New Jersey Transit, Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road — suspended operations.
Roadways, including the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge linking Staten Island and Brooklyn, were closed for several hours.
A flash flood warning was posted for part of the northern Catskill Mountains, where more than four inches of rain had fallen by evening in some sections. A tornado watch that included the Hudson Valley from Poughkeepsie to Glens Falls expired by the evening.