Heavy Rain Causes Flooding, State of Emergency in NYC

By NBC NY

Heavy rain swamped New York City on Friday flooding streets, highways, and homes while causing subway and air travel disruptions.

Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency for the city.

“Some of our subways are flooded and it is extremely difficult to move around the city. Many of our area airports are experiencing delays,” the mayor said at a noon news conference. “If you are out and encounter a flooded area, roadway or subway station, do not enter and take necessary precaution. This is a dangerous weather condition and it is not over. I dont’ want the gaps in heavy rain to give the appearance it is over. It is not. We could see eight inches of rain before the day is over.”

Traffic was at a standstill, with water above cars’ tires, on a stretch of the FDR Drive – a major artery along the east side of Manhattan. Some drivers abandoned their vehicles.

Photos and video posted on social media showed water pouring into streets, subway stations and basements.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also declared a state of emergency because of the conditions. The state of emergency applies to New York City, Long Island, and Hudson Valley.

“Flash flooding is unpredictable and individuals who think they can go about their normal lives and drive vehicles or even take the subway, need to be aware that there are major disruptions,” Governor Hochul told Eyewitness News Mornings @ 10. “Best to stay home if at all possible, but if you go into a vehicle you have a chance of being swept away and we lose more lives due to flooding events and people getting trapped in their vehicles.”

As much as 6 inches of rain had fallen in Brooklyn, knocking out subway service and flooding streets.

“Brooklyn is the epicenter of the storm,” Hochul said earlier. “It is serious. This is a dangerous life-threatening storm. As we’ve seen in other extreme weather events, these have a capacity to sweep vehicles off the roads and people could be drowned in their own vehicles.”

Flash flood warnings have been issued with periods of heavy rain expected through Saturday.

The rain will linger overnight into the first part of Saturday, with rain chances tapering off the second half of the day Saturday.

The weather is expected to clearing on Sunday with sunshine and mid 70s.

AccuWeather forecast:

Friday

AccuWeather Alert: Heavy rain, flooding. High 63.

Saturday

Damp start, breaks to the north and west. High 65.

Sunday

Major recovery. High 75.

Monday

Beautiful. High 77.

Tuesday

Sunny and warm. High 78.

Wednesday

Stays pleasant. High 76.

Thursday

Sun and cirrus. High 72.

🚨TRAVEL ADVISORY🚨issued by New York City emergency officials

-Flash flood warnings issued in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island

-Subways- "only extremely limited" service available -MTA

-LaGuardia Airport -flooding cut off access to Terminal A pic.twitter.com/57VNAH8dsj

— Biasedly Unbiased (@DiRealDan) September 29, 2023

#DEVELOPING: Major flooding happening now in NYC.pic.twitter.com/I926shVCKH

— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) September 29, 2023

Lots of flooding in Windsor Terrace Brooklyn today. Ok pic.twitter.com/KBjzy3vTJX

— Christian Skotte (@el_skootro) September 29, 2023

Major flooding in New York!! #flashflood #flashflooding #flooding #flood #newyork #newyorkcity #nyc #brooklyn #rain #rainstorm #storm #downpour #streetflooding #sel #abd #usa #BREAKING

pic.twitter.com/NdRD4LOt1Y

— Musa Kayrak (@musakayrak) September 29, 2023

UNDER WATER: Brooklyn Queens Expressway pic.twitter.com/zXUDUoVXK5

— NYScanner (@nyscanner) September 29, 2023