Mother Nature has a sense of humor — and just like last year, we’re met with unwelcome wet weather to kick off the long Memorial Day weekend.
Hell’s Kitchen locals hoping to enjoy a leisurely outdoor Saturday brunch at the Barking Dog restaurant were whacked with high-speed winds blowing through the dining patio that shuttled away the umbrellas and tables. W42ST reader Rolo Galeano witnessed and videoed the scene as staff at the outdoor restaurant at Worldwide Plaza rushed to try to secure tables, as chairs started flying, umbrellas turned inside out and plates smashed to the ground. Galeano told us: “It was chaotic and terrifying for the workers.”
The view from up above wasn’t much better, as a time-lapsed video from W42ST reader Kathy (@nyckatlyl) showed ominous clouds, rain, and thunder rolling into Hell’s Kitchen. She told us: “Those winds were no joke!”
In another take from above, Paul Yang detailed the scene from the 24th floor of his Conrad Midtown hotel on W54th Street. His husband, Adam Bialow, published the video on Twitter complete with sound!
NotifyNYC issued a special weather statement midday, advising New Yorkers to seek shelter from high winds:
Weather.com noted a flood advisory and warned of potential hail in addition to the winds, but predicted that the rain would drop off later in the afternoon — to be on the safe side, we’d give it a few hours and stay inside!