While we previously mentioned it was be rainy today, the National Weather Service has issued flood and wind advisories for all boroughs except Staten Island, which has a wind advisory until 11:15 a.m. Also: "EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THESE STORMS WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF URBAN AREAS... HIGHWAYS... STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS. FALLING LEAVES MAY ALSO RESULT IN BLOCKED SEWERS AND STORM DRAINS...RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL AREAS OF STANDING......

Our warning about today's wicked winds was no joke; as you can see from the photo above our weather writer's vision of Christmas tree tumbleweeds has come to pass. There's so much dust and dirt whipping around on these 40 mph winds that protective goggles wouldn't be a bad idea. It's so windy there are a number of reports of falling debris from buildings (perhaps unsecured construction materials). And reader James tells us that......