Tri State Region is Hit Hard By Flash Flooding from Severe Storms

Large portions of New Jersey, Connecticut and New York City faced extensive flooding that shut down roads, halted subway services, and inundated basements amid heavy rainfall during Friday morning's commute. The downpour has created a cascade of flooding disasters across heavily populated areas. Parts of the tri-state region saw a month’s worth of rain, over 4 inches, deluge parts of Brooklyn within a mere three hours. Intense rain across the New York tri-state area, falling at rates of 1 to 2 inches an hour, was forecasted to persist through Friday evening.

Current Developments:

• Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency for the NYC area amid the rampant flooding affecting roads, basements, and subways.
• The National Weather Service has flagged a significant flash flood damage threat across NYC.
• Multiple subway lines in Brooklyn have suspended service due to water on the tracks.
• LaGuardia International Airport terminal has been closed due to weather-induced issues, with flight delays escalating.
• Approximately 8.5 million people in the NYC area are under flash flood warnings.

Gov. Hochul's emergency declaration covers NYC, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. Urging residents to stay home, she highlighted the perilous travel conditions and emphasized the life-threatening nature of the weather event.

The flooding created significant disturbances in subway service, affecting nine train lines in Brooklyn and all three Metro-North train lines. NYC emergency management reported a surge of floodwater into basements and on roads in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Hoboken, New Jersey, prompting multiple road closures.

The situation at New York’s LaGuardia Airport worsened as flooding prevented ground crew access to various parts of the airport’s ramps, leading to the closure of Terminal A amid minimal flight cancellations and growing delays.

With over 8.5 million individuals under flash flood warnings in New York and New Jersey, the National Weather Service reported widespread rainfall of 1 to 2 inches since midnight, with more anticipated. Alerts warning of a "dangerous and life-threatening situation" with significant risk of flash flood damage were sent to millions.John F. Kennedy International Airport recorded significant rainfall, with over 4 inches registered since midnight. About 25 million people across the Northeast were facing flood threats, with the NYC tri-state area at a Level 3 of 4 “moderate” risk for flash flooding. Hundreds of calls into  disaster recovery contractors to being water extraction, towtrucks to remove flooded vehicles  and emergency response personnel to help with widespread flooding issues.  

The dire situation led NYC officials to announce a travel advisory from 4 a.m. Friday through 6 a.m. ET Saturday, alerting residents of potential widespread travel impacts. Precautionary measures, including the installation of drain covers and deployment of pump trains, were taken by the MTA.

NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol advised New Yorkers to prepare for heavy rain and potential flooding throughout Friday and Saturday morning. He encouraged the use of public transport and advised against entering flooded roadways for those needing to travel.

Predictions noted highest rain amounts in Central New Jersey northward to Manhattan, Long Island in New York, southern Connecticut, and the Hudson Valley. Neighboring cities could experience substantial rainfall, with totals between 2 and 4 inches, potentially increasing to between 5 and 8 inches in certain regions.