Severe Storms Bring Chaos to NYC as Record Rainfall Causes Widespread Flooding and Transit Disruptions
Heavy rain and powerful winds lashed New York City on Thursday, unleashing a torrent of flooding and chaos that crippled the city's infrastructure. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for much of the five boroughs, with rainfall rates reaching up to 2 inches per hour in some areas, leaving roads and streets awash.
The storm's fury was further amplified by strong gusts that reached up to 50 mph, prompting bridge closures and scattered power outages, particularly on Staten Island. Two men lost their lives in flooded basements as the city's drainage system struggled to keep pace with the deluge.
Transit authorities were also severely impacted, with widespread flooding causing delays across multiple subway lines, including the 1, L, and G. Ferry service on Staten Island was temporarily suspended during the storm, and road flooding snarled traffic throughout the city. The westbound Belt Parkway in Brooklyn and the Long Island Expressway in Queens both closed at times due to high water.
The storm's impact extended beyond the streets, with ground stops at JFK and LaGuardia airports causing residual flight delays into the evening. The MTA restricted certain vehicles from major bridges due to the strong winds, adding to the chaos.
City officials urged residents to exercise extreme caution, advising them to stay off flooded streets, secure outdoor items, and avoid basement apartments that may be vulnerable to flooding. Contractors and property owners were also advised to tie down loose materials and scaffolding to prevent further damage.
As the storm begins to subside, forecasters are warning of minor coastal flooding in southern Queens through early Friday morning, with gusts expected to continue through Saturday. However, conditions are expected to dry out by Friday morning, with clear but blustery weather predicted for Halloween and this weekend's New York City Marathon.
Heavy rain and powerful winds lashed New York City on Thursday, unleashing a torrent of flooding and chaos that crippled the city's infrastructure. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for much of the five boroughs, with rainfall rates reaching up to 2 inches per hour in some areas, leaving roads and streets awash.
The storm's fury was further amplified by strong gusts that reached up to 50 mph, prompting bridge closures and scattered power outages, particularly on Staten Island. Two men lost their lives in flooded basements as the city's drainage system struggled to keep pace with the deluge.
Transit authorities were also severely impacted, with widespread flooding causing delays across multiple subway lines, including the 1, L, and G. Ferry service on Staten Island was temporarily suspended during the storm, and road flooding snarled traffic throughout the city. The westbound Belt Parkway in Brooklyn and the Long Island Expressway in Queens both closed at times due to high water.
The storm's impact extended beyond the streets, with ground stops at JFK and LaGuardia airports causing residual flight delays into the evening. The MTA restricted certain vehicles from major bridges due to the strong winds, adding to the chaos.
City officials urged residents to exercise extreme caution, advising them to stay off flooded streets, secure outdoor items, and avoid basement apartments that may be vulnerable to flooding. Contractors and property owners were also advised to tie down loose materials and scaffolding to prevent further damage.
As the storm begins to subside, forecasters are warning of minor coastal flooding in southern Queens through early Friday morning, with gusts expected to continue through Saturday. However, conditions are expected to dry out by Friday morning, with clear but blustery weather predicted for Halloween and this weekend's New York City Marathon.
ugh dont know how nyc ppl deal with these crazy storms its like they say 'its not the storm thats bad, its the aftermath' 
i mean flooding everywhere, transit delayed, ppl stuck in basement apartments... 
but im guessin its all good now, sun's out, city's dryin out, and ppl can get back to their daily grind 
gotta respect the storm gods for givin us a clear weekend ahead 
the rain in nyc is CRAZY!!! 
how are they even dealing with all that water? 
it's like, the city is under water 
and ferry suspensions 
what a pain! 
anyway, can't wait for halloween tho 
, but like, the flooding is WILD 
. And poor Staten Island, stuck with all those power outages 
...my heart goes out to everyone affected by this storm 
. I just hope the city gets back on its feet soon 
. Can't wait for that NYC Marathon to happen, though...the weather might be weird, but the runners will rock it 
!
I feel bad for those two guys who lost their lives in flooded basements tho 
it's just so senseless. transit delays are the WORST during storms like this, can't we just get reliable public transport already? 
at least the good news is that the weekend's marathon is still on track 
! NYC is dealing with like 2 inches of rain per hour in some areas? That's insane 
. Two lives lost due to flooding is just heartbreaking 
!
. And, of course, the NYC Marathon crew is looking forward to a clear (but blustery) weekend - fingers crossed for them! 
️
️ man, i feel bad for those people who lost their homes due to flooding... but i gotta say, it's kinda nice that the city is getting a good cleaning right now? all that dirt and grime has been washed away, you know? 
plus, think of all the new life in the plants and trees that are gonna start growing back after this. and can you believe those airport ground stops caused some pretty epic flight delays? lol, i guess that's just part of being a traveler, right? 
but seriously, city officials are doing their best to keep everyone safe, so let's all just take a deep breath and hope the sun comes out soon. 
. airport delays are no joke either 
. but on the bright side, clear skies for the marathon, yay! 
hope everyone stays safe and dry 
? The 70s and 80s were the best times for this city - you had the music, the fashion, the energy... it was like one big party 
.
.
. Or if the MTA had just... I don't know, used horses or something 
? It's like they're still stuck in the present 
anyway back 2 the flooding probs i think we need better drainage systems & more preparedness in place 4 these types of events nyc is a city that never sleeps but when does it get a break from all this rain? 
. two lives lost in flooded basements is heartbreaking 
just hope everyone stays safe and dry until the weather clears up 
Storms are getting crazy! NYC is flooded and it's like a scene from a movie 
I hope everyone stayed safe 
. Like, we all knew that was a thing since the last hurricane, right? Anyway, on a more serious note, two lives lost is just devastating. You can't even walk down the street without tripping over flooded potholes these days 
. At least the airports got some respite from the chaos – I guess that's something 
. I mean, who needs to run a marathon on Halloween when you have floods, right? Maybe they should just have it in July like everyone else 
. I don’t know how the city's drainage system keeps up with all that water 
Anyway, hope everyone stays safe out there 
omg what a crazy storm! I feel bad for those 2 guys who lost their lives in flooded basements 
. I feel so bad for those two guys who lost their lives in flooded basements, that's just heartbreaking 
The MTA needs to step up their game too, those bridge closures are so inconvenient