NYC and NJ weather: States of emergency declared as millions in Northeast drenched by heavy rain
New Yorkers and millions of others in the Northeast have faced flash floods for the second time in two weeks as severe thunderstorms and torrential downpours slammed the East Coast.
Some workers in NY and New Jersey were sent home early Thursday afternoon ahead of the evening commute. The city’s emergency management agency urged people to avoid unnecessary travel, warning that street, basement, and transit flooding were possible. States of emergency were declared in New York and New Jersey as the storms arrived.
“I am urging all New Yorkers to stay vigilant, stay informed, and use caution as we expect excessive rainfall with the potential for flash flooding,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said. “State agencies are on standby for heavy downpours and localized flooding and will be monitoring the situation in real-time to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers in the path of the storm.”
Heavy rain and thunderstorms kept travelers grounded in New York and the surrounding areas. Hundreds of flights both in and out of Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK airports were canceled or delayed. JFK and Newark were reporting an average delay of three-and-a-half hours, while LaGuardia had a two-and-a-half-hour delay due to the weather.
One death was reported after a child was trapped in a storm drain in Mount Airy, Maryland, according to the Carroll County fire chief. The call of a child trapped after being swept away by flood waters close to an apartment building came in at 5.22 p.m., prompting 50 first responders, said Chief Michael Robinson.
“Fifty first responders worked for most of an hour to attempt to free the child from the storm drain,” he noted in a statement. The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
The thunderstorms and rain were caused by a slow-moving cold front with an unusual amount of moisture, according to the National Weather Service.
More than 50 million people were placed under flood watches on Thursday across the northeast. The National Weather Service forecast 1.5 to 3 inches of rain for New York through Friday afternoon.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a localized state of emergency Thursday afternoon as city roads began to be inundated by floodwater.
“I’ve issued a state of emergency,” he said on X just before 5 p.m. “The Travel Advisory and Flood Watch are in effect until 8 AM. Stay where you are if you can. Don’t drive. Roadways are flooding, and crews are responding. If you live in a basement apartment and haven’t yet moved to higher ground, move now.”
Shortly before 3 p.m. E.T., Hochul said on X, “I will be declaring a State of Emergency for New York City and the surrounding counties. Heavy rain and potential flooding are expected to affect the evening commute. Employers are encouraged to dismiss employees early. Continue to monitor your local forecasts, and stay safe.”
The Long Island Rail Road’s Port Washington branch was suspended due to flooding, as the NYPD said all northbound lanes on the FDR Drive at E Houston Street were also closed.
The southbound lanes of the Cross Island Parkway were blocked at the Throggs Neck Bridge, the NYPD said.
Delays and service changes were also reported for the A, D, E, B, F, and C trains. The New York City Transit Authority said on X that “Q service is partially suspended while we remove a downed tree from the tracks at Parkside Av.”
