Unprecedented Rainfall Drenches New York Metro Area, Disrupting Public Transit and Roadways

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The New York metropolitan region experienced one of its most rain-soaked days in recent memory this past Friday, leading to the suspension of multiple subway and commuter rail lines, trapping motorists on highways, inundating basements, and necessitating the closure of a terminal at LaGuardia Airport.

Weather and municipal officials reported that up to 6.7 inches (approximately 17 centimeters) of rain had deluged areas of Brooklyn by noon, with one location witnessing a staggering 2.5 inches (about 6 centimeters) within just an hour. The 6 inches (around 15 centimeters) of precipitation recorded at John F. Kennedy Airport exceeded a previous record established during Hurricane Donna in September 1960, according to the National Weather Service.

Further rainfall was forecasted.

This torrential downpour arrived two years subsequent to the lingering effects of Hurricane Ida, which unleashed record-setting rain over the Northeast, resulting in a minimum of 13 fatalities in New York City—predominantly in inundated basement apartments. Although the recent storm did not result in reported deaths or critical injuries, it resurrected unsettling recollections for certain inhabitants.

Joy Wong, who lost three neighbors, including a young child, during Ida, discovered water creeping toward her building’s entrance in Woodside, Queens on Friday. “The level of concern was extremely high,” she stated. External conditions were so perilous that exiting was not an option: “The exterior resembled a vast body of water.”

Her building’s basement, which had been converted into a recreational space following the tragic loss of lives in 2021, was once again engulfed, with water levels nearly touching the ceiling.

Municipal authorities acknowledged receiving reports of flooding in six basement apartments on Friday; however, all residents were safely evacuated.

Both Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams declared states of emergency and advised residents to remain indoors if feasible. Nonetheless, educational institutions remained open, pupils attended classes, and a considerable number of adults ventured to their workplaces, subsequently pondering their return journey.

Almost every subway line encountered at least partial suspensions, reroutings, or delays. Metro-North commuter railroad was halted, Long Island Rail Road experienced severe disruptions, and even bus services were critically impacted, stated transit authorities.

Traffic came to a grinding halt along a segment of the FDR Drive, an essential route running along Manhattan’s east side. Some motorists, finding water levels exceeding their vehicles’ tire height, chose to abandon their cars.

By 11 a.m., Priscilla Fontallio had already spent three hours immobilized in her vehicle on a section of the highway that was not submerged. “This is unprecedented in my experience,” she remarked.

Flights to LaGuardia Airport were temporarily suspended Friday morning and subsequently delayed due to flooding in the refueling section. One of the airport’s three terminals was also shut down. Approximately a quarter of LaGuardia flights were canceled, along with 13% at Kennedy Airport.

A school in Brooklyn was evacuated owing to a smoking boiler, which possibly occurred due to water infiltration, informed Schools Chancellor David Banks during a news conference.

The unseasonable weather also led to the deferment of a preseason hockey match between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders on Long Island, now rescheduled for Saturday evening.

According to the National Weather Service meteorologist Dominic Ramunni, the relentless rainfall originated from a coastal storm, magnified by a low-pressure system off the East Coast that drew in deep moisture from the Atlantic Ocean.

Cities and towns surrounding the New York metropolitan area, including Hoboken, New Jersey, also confronted flooding conditions. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy directed state offices to conclude operations at 3 p.m., exempting essential staff.

Governor Hochul had cautioned New Yorkers on the preceding Thursday evening of a forecast indicating 2-3 inches (approximately 5-7.5 centimeters) of rain, with potential localized amounts exceeding 5 inches (around 13 centimeters).

“As climate change continues, such unprecedented weather events are likely to become more frequent,” Hochul stated in a Friday interview, emphasizing the necessity for adaptation and preparedness.

Renowned climatologists assert that as global temperatures escalate, atmospheric conditions are becoming increasingly conducive to extreme rainfall events.

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Contributions to this report were made by Deepti Hajela and Karen Matthews in New York and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany.

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More about Unprecedented Rainfall

• National Weather Service Updates
• New York City Office of Emergency Management
• Climate Change and Extreme Weather: Scientific Consensus
• Governor Kathy Hochul’s Official Statement on the Extreme Rainfall
• Mayor Eric Adams’ Emergency Response Update
• LaGuardia Airport Flight Status
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Service Alerts
• Past Weather Events: Hurricane Ida’s Impact on New York
• Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for Urban Areas
• New Jersey Office of Emergency Management Updates