Heavy Rain Causes New York City Flash Floods (April 2024)

New York City found itself in the midst of a crippling deluge on Friday, as relentless rainfall, following a week of continuous showers, wreaked havoc across the city. This resulted in flash floods that disrupted daily life.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning that remained in effect until midday. By Friday morning, some areas had already experienced over 2 inches (5.08 cm) of rain, with forecasts predicting an additional 3 inches within hours.

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Parts of Brooklyn, lower Manhattan, and John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens reported astonishing rainfall totals of up to 6 inches, posing life-threatening conditions, according to meteorologist Zack Taylor from the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.

Travel conditions became extremely hazardous, leading Taylor to advise residents to remain indoors until the weather system moved away from the coast later in the evening.

The intensity of the rainfall prompted New York Governor Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley, urging residents to prioritize safety and avoid flooded roads.

New York’s transportation infrastructure suffered greatly due to the flooding, with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority reporting significant disruptions to the subway system and the Metro North commuter rail service. Numerous subway lines were suspended, and several stations had to be closed.

Across the broader New York metropolitan area and along the East Coast, approximately 18 million people were under various flood warnings, watches, and advisories issued by the weather service.

Images and videos circulated on social media displayed submerged vehicles on neighborhood streets and waterlogged subway stations, causing commuter chaos during the morning rush.

In the nearby city of Hoboken, New Jersey, most southern routes into the city were submerged, activating recently installed flood gates designed to automatically close when roadways accumulate water, effectively blocking vehicular traffic. These floodgates played a crucial role in the city’s flood management infrastructure.