Flash flood warning issued for NYC, N.J. declares emergency as heavy rains soak area
Western Union County, New Jersey, experienced life-threatening flash flooding by storms that were nearly stationary Monday evening, the National Weather Service office for the New York City region said.
"Please stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in announcing he was declaring a state of emergency due to the heavy rainfall.
No deaths appeared to have been reported in the showers that soaked the New York City area, which forecasters said weakened and moved east by around 10 p.m.
All five boroughs of New York City had been placed under a flash flood warning Monday evening. That warning expired, but the area was under a flash flood watch until midnight.
Emergency management officials warned residents of basement apartments to be ready to leave.
"If you live in a basement apartment, stay alert. Flash flooding can happen with little warning, including overnight," New York City Emergency Management said on X. "Keep a phone, flashlight, and Go Bag nearby. Be ready to move to higher ground."
Video on social media showed people wading out into floodwaters above their knees Monday in New Providence, New Jersey, around 10 miles west of Newark.
In Westchester County in New York, north of New York City, there were "numerous calls" about vehicles submerged in floodwaters on roads, prompting rescues by first responders, the county government said.
Early rainfall reports Monday evening in New York City included 1.67 inches in Staten Island and 1.47 inches in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City Emergency Management said on X at around 7:30 p.m. — and it cautioned more rain was forecast Monday night.
LaGuardia International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport both reported flight disruptions due to the weather, and John F. Kennedy Airport warned of possible problems. All three airports led in cancellations Monday night on tracking website FlightAware.
Ground stops due to thunderstorms were issued for LaGuardia and Newark airports Monday evening, the Federal Aviation Administration website showed, and long delays were reported at all three.
Standing water on the Cross Bronx Expressway caused the traffic artery to be closed in both directions at Macombs Road, emergency officials said.
There was also standing water on FDR Drive that was causing delays Monday night, as well as standing water on Harlem River Drive, the city warned.
The rain wreaked havoc on city subway lines. New York City Transit said that 1, 2, and 3 trains in Manhattan were suspended after flooding at stations, and that E, M and R trains were "severely disrupted."
The Staten Island Railway suspended service in both directions in the southern part of the borough because of floods.
The National Weather Service warned earlier Monday that showers and thunderstorms could bring rainfall rates of up to 2 inches an hour, and up to 3 inches in total could fall in the New York City area.
By just after 10 p.m., the heaviest rainfall had moved east of New York City and weakened, and the showers were forecast to lessen in intensity throughout the night, the weather service office for the region said.
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