After several days of hazy skies and high temperatures, New York City and nearby regions were struck on Saturday by intense thunderstorms, heavy rain, and flash flooding.
The National Weather Service reported that two to four inches of rain had fallen by early Saturday afternoon, with rates reaching up to an inch per hour. A flood watch remains in effect for all five boroughs of New York City, southern Westchester County, and northeastern New Jersey until 2 a.m. Sunday.
The National Weather Service in New York cautioned that “the flooding could be locally significant, causing disruptions in transportation, flooding in basements, and necessitating water rescues.”
As per city emergency management officials, the most substantial rainfall was recorded in lower Manhattan, as well as in western Brooklyn and Queens. Residents living in basement apartments were advised to relocate to higher floors.
Jeremy Edwards, a spokesman for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, stated on Saturday afternoon, “This storm event is still ongoing, and the mayor continues to encourage residents and visitors in our city to stay alert and prioritize safety.”
In the Bronx, the Yankees-Dodgers game scheduled for Saturday has been postponed and will now take place on Sunday as part of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, according to an announcement from MLB released.
Footage showed several vehicles submerged on a roadway above the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, with two individuals seen standing in front of a white truck. Another person was spotted wading through water that reached waist height, while some areas had sidewalks inundated with murky water. Videos from Woodside, Queens, depicted streets flooded with several feet of water.
The heavy rainfall resulted in flight delays and cancellations at LaGuardia, Kennedy, and Newark airports just before the World Cup final match set to occur in New Jersey on Sunday. All three airports were under ground stops during the stormy conditions Saturday evening, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
New Jersey also faced torrential downpours, prompting flash flood warnings for multiple counties. In Newark, police and firefighters responded to reports of five vehicles trapped in deep water and successfully rescued the occupants without any injuries, as stated by Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul cautioned about the potential for power outages, downed trees, and roadblocks.
“I urge everyone to take this weather situation seriously,” Hochul expressed in a statement released on Friday.
The rain arrived as residents in the Northeast were dealing with hazardous air quality caused by thick, noxious smoke from wildfires burning in Canada. As of Saturday, nearly 1,000 active fires were reported across Canada, according to its government.
Rain, changing winds, and a cold front are anticipated to assist in clearing the smoke, although air quality improvements may not be immediate in all areas.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported that the city’s subway system faced service interruptions at multiple stations as water flooded the tracks.
As predicted, the weather caused significant disruptions on the roads.
The Long Island Expressway was completely blocked in both directions at 188th Street for a few hours due to flooding, as reported by the New York City Police Department. Additionally, all lanes of the Clearview Expressway at Northern Boulevard were also briefly closed in both directions.
The weather service indicated that multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms are projected to continue through Saturday evening, exacerbating flooding and bringing damaging winds along with the possibility of tornadoes.
This report has been updated with further details.
USdaily’s Dalia Faheid and Graham Hurley contributed to this report.
