New York City braces for more harsh weather

NEW YORK (AFP) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday announced a limited evacuation of some neighbourhoods ahead of harsh weather barreling toward a city still recovering from superstorm Sandy.

The national weather service forecasted heavy rain and likely snow on Wednesday and Thursday, accompanied by gale force winds gusting as high as 69kmh.

Though barely half the strength of Sandy, the autumn storm will lash already damaged buildings and bring lower temperatures for tens of thousands of people still struggling without electricity.

Mr Bloomberg told a news conference that parks and beaches would close. The worst-hit patches of waterfront neighbourhoods, including Rockaways in the Queens borough, and in Staten Island, were being asked to evacuate again.