New York City weather, flood: State of emergency declared as rains disrupt NYC subway, airport; Flash flood in New Jersey, Manhattan

Twenty-three million individuals are currently under a flood watch in regions spanning New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Many areas in the vicinity of New York City had already received more than 5 inches of rainfall.

In response to the situation, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency encompassing New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. Mayor Eric Adams also issued a separate state of emergency declaration for New York City.

Flash Flood in New Jersey, Other Areas

Flash flood warnings are in effect for various parts of the region, including Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and New Jersey, due to the occurrence or imminent threat of flash flooding.



Within a single hour, Brooklyn Navy Yard reported over 2.5 inches of rainfall. During a virtual briefing, Rohit Aggarwala, New York's chief climate officer, highlighted that the city's sewage system was originally designed to handle a maximum of 1.75 inches of rainfall per hour.



The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recommended that individuals stay at home unless they had essential travel plans. Additionally, the New York Police Department announced several road closures and revealed that the National Guard had been deployed.

Airport Terminal Closed

Due to flooding, Terminal A at La Guardia Airport is presently closed, and authorities are advising passengers to check with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.

New York Subway

In the New York subway -- one of the world's largest systems with 420 stations and more than 30 lines -- water poured down the steps and through the ceilings of some stations. The subway is essential to the lives of millions of city residents in the most populous US city, but a number of lines, including in Brooklyn, were shut down because of the flooding.

The National Weather Service warned of flooding through late Friday with as much as two inches (5.1 centimeters) of rain falling per hour. It said total accumulation on Friday could hit seven inches (18 centimeters). The rain came from a low pressure system along the mid-Atlantic coast, which pulls in moist air from the ocean, as per an AFP report.

FAQs

Q1. What is weather forecast for New York City?
A1. The National Weather Service warned of flooding through late Friday with as much as two inches (5.1 centimeters) of rain falling per hour. It said total accumulation on Friday could hit seven inches (18 centimeters).

Q2. Is New York subway the largest in world?
A2. New York subway IS one of the world's largest systems with 420 stations and more than 30 lines.