Flash Floods Sweep New York and New Jersey as Storms Drench Northeast
By Staff Reporter | Editor in chief: US Correspondent
ShareNEW YORK, NY — A powerful, slow-moving storm system drenched the Northeast late Monday, unleashing torrential rains that triggered flash floods across New York and New Jersey. Streets turned into rivers, subway tunnels overflowed, and emergency crews conducted rescues in several low-lying neighborhoods, all within hours.
The storm dumped between 4 to 8 inches of rain on the region in less than six hours. Climate experts say it was a classic example of how global warming is intensifying rainfall events, turning summer downpours into dangerous deluges.
Water floods the 28th St. station during Wednesday’s storm.
Storm Fueled by Unstable Atmosphere, Warm Ocean Air
According to the National Weather Service, the storm developed from a stalled front that pulled in unusually warm, moisture-laden air from the Atlantic conditions scientists say are increasingly common as ocean and air temperatures rise.
“We're seeing storms intensify more quickly and carry more water,” said Dr. Emily Navarro, climatologist at Columbia University's Earth Institute. “What used to be rare, 100-year events are happening with alarming frequency.”
A woman wades through water in a flooded New York subway station. (9News)
Infrastructure Under Strain
In Queens and Westchester County, flooded basements, downed power lines, and waterlogged intersections left emergency crews scrambling. Local officials warned that the region’s aging stormwater systems are not equipped for this scale of rainfall.
“We can’t keep patching 20th-century infrastructure to meet 21st-century storms,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer.
Many public schools in the affected regions were either closed or delayed. Power outages affected more than 80,000 customers at the peak of the storm.
The Climate Connection
This event is the latest in a growing list of extreme weather hitting the Northeast. A 2023 NOAA report found that the region has experienced a 71% increase in the most intense rainfall events since 1958.
“Warmer air holds more moisture, and that turns even ordinary systems into flood machines,” said Navarro. “Cities like New York need green infrastructure, rain gardens, permeable pavements, and floodable zones, to adapt.”
Cleanup and Continued Threat
While skies began to clear Tuesday afternoon, forecasters warned of the potential for more storms later this week. Ground saturation remains high, heightening the risk of mudslides and additional flooding.
Governor Kathy Hochul addressed the state Tuesday morning, urging vigilance. “Our emergency services are doing heroic work, but we need long-term planning to protect our communities from the new climate reality.”
What’s Next?
As the region begins cleanup, calls are growing louder for investment in climate resilience, especially in urban areas where impermeable surfaces magnify flood risk.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it's here, in our streets and subways,” said Navarro. “If this isn’t the wake-up call, I don’t know what is.”
Photo: https://www.weather.gov/
Stay safe. For emergency updates, visit weather.gov or follow @NWSNewYorkNY on X (formerly Twitter).