NYC issues emergency flash flood warning as city is drenched with up to eight inches of rain in latest blow from Tropical Storm Ophelia
- Lingering rain is expected to affect 25 million people across New York on Friday
- The tri-state area, including New Jersey and Connecticut, will be affected
- New Yorkers were soaked while commuting while the streets were flooded
New York City has issued an emergency flash flood warning as the city prepares for a deluge of more than eight inches of rain on Friday as flash flooding hit roadways during rush hour – the latest blow from Tropical Storm Ophelia.
The downpour is expected to continue through Saturday and drench the tri-state area, with the National Weather Service extending a “moderate” flood watch from 2 a.m. Friday into the night.
The rainfall, which has already reached a rate of two to three inches per hour, has significantly affected the morning commute of millions of New Yorkers, with social media users sharing images of the chaotic scene in the area.
While most of the tri-state area is expected to receive three to three inches of rain, some areas further away from New York’s five boroughs could receive as much as three to three inches of rain. Nassau, Queens and Kings counties, which include Brooklyn, will experience or are expected to experience flooding Friday morning.
The area from Central New Jersey to Manhattan, Long Island and Southern Connecticut and the Hudson Valley is forecast to see the most rainfall. Philadelphia and Boston could also see up to two inches of rain, and Hartford could see up to four inches or more.
New York City was drenched Friday as flash flooding hit roads during rush hour and up to eight inches of rain was forecast. Flooding in Brooklyn is pictured above
Persistent rain is expected to impact 25 million people in the New York tri-state area from 2 a.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday
The rain is expected to taper off Friday evening but will pass into Saturday morning. City officials issued a travel advisory from 4 a.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday, warning of possible “widespread travel impacts” during morning traffic.
“We urge New Yorkers to prepare for heavy rain and possible flooding through Friday and Saturday morning,” New York Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol said.
“All New Yorkers need to be careful. If you must travel, consider using public transportation and allow extra travel time. If you must drive, avoid driving on flooded roads,” he added.
The MTA is also trying to get ahead of the storm as workers began checking storm drains at the 157th Street subway station on Thursday.
MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said, “No matter what we do, there will be water in the subway system… The good news is that this system is designed to take water and pump it out in large quantities,”
The MTA will monitor conditions during the storm and make repairs as necessary after the 24-hour situation room is activated.
Lieber added in a statement: “This is a serious storm and we are taking it seriously.”
Even an inch or two of rain could lead to flooding in parts of NYC and nearby regions still saturated from last weekend’s storm.
The rainfall, which has already reached a rate of two to three inches per hour, has significantly affected the morning commute of millions of New Yorkers.
The rain showers are brought by the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia, with winds converging just to the north
The MTA tried to get ahead of the storm as workers began checking storm drains at the 157th Street subway station on Thursday
The rain showers are being caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia, experts say
The potential flood threat could be dangerous for cities like New York, considering how Hurricane Ida in 2021 drowned 11 people, including a two-year-old boy, in their basement apartments.
During Ida, the city received between 6 and 6 inches of rain in 24 hours.
The showers are the result of the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia with converging winds just to the north, Fox Weather meteorologist Greg Diamond said. The mail.
New Yorkers were warned Sunday to prepare to seek higher ground as Post-Tropical Cyclone Ophelia continued to lash the East Coast with wet weather.
Ophelia was a near-hurricane tropical storm when it crashed near Emerald Isle, North Carolina, on September 24.
The power went out and the coastal streets were flooded. Last week, states of emergency were declared in Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.