Severe storms over July Fourth Weekend not only knocked out power to thousands of people in Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania, but also caused significant damage to some of the region’s parks and trails.
Several parks in New York remained closed on Monday following the storms, and officials are warning hikers to avoid an 11-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut due to storm damage.
According to New York State Park officials, James Baird State Park in eastern New York’s Taconic region remained closed for a second day on Monday due to severe storm damage, including downed trees and wires.
Bear Mountain State Park, in New York’s Palisades region, also remained closed on Monday due to a water main break reportedly connected to the storm.
Meanwhile, Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) officials are warning hikers to avoid an 11-mile stretch of the trail in Connecticut that was severely damaged by storms over the weekend.
Officials said the conservancy has received reports that the stretch of Appalachian Trail from approximately Belters Campsite (NOBO mile 1496.9) to Salisbury (NOBO mile 1507.9) was impacted by a series of “extreme storms” that hit the area over the weekend.
They said Belters Campsite and Limestone Springs Shelter and Campsite (NOBO mile 1503.6) are heavily damaged, and people hiking the trail should avoid the areas.
Conservancy officials warned that weather forecasts show more severe weather predicted for the area with continuous rain until mid-day Tuesday and an estimate of two or more inches of rainfall. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for the area.
Officials “strongly” suggest hikers avoid the area and wait out the storm and flooding in town. They said streams will be high with strong water flow during and after the rainfall event. Also, the weekend’s storms likely damaged standing trees that could come down later.
Volunteers in Connecticut are reportedly coordinating assessing damage and clean-up.
