Jan Wesner Childs
Waves of water washed through Brooklyn streets, most of New York City's subways came to a standstill and people had to be rescued from vehicles in waist-deep water as torrential rainfall fell in the NYC metro Friday.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency across New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley due to extreme rainfall and flooding. The city also declared a state of emergency, as did New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.
(MORE: How The New York Flood Happened)
Residents, meanwhile, were reminded of the nightmare flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ida two years ago. Some who survived Ida watched as water again filled the basements of their buildings.
"This unnamed storm system brought the wettest day to parts of the New York City metro on record and also dropped rain at rates not seen since Ida," weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles said. "This shows that everyone should be ready for high-impact flooding events regardless of whether or not a name is attached to an event or not."
(MORE: New York Flooding By The Numbers)
Among it all, New Yorkers did their best to persevere. Some trudged and biked through the rising waters, despite being warned to stay inside. Others drove past a floating car on the Prospect Expressway during their morning commute in Brooklyn.
And at Central Park Zoo, a female sea lion swam about freely in floodwaters outside her pool.
"Thankfully this storm system had somewhere to go and didn't sit on the city for an extended stay," Belles said.
Here's a look at our live updates from Friday:
(6:33 p.m. ET) Weather Will Improve Into The Weekend
From weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles: The tri-state region will dry out and warm up through the weekend as the storm system shifts eastward. Onshore winds will be slower to calm down, but coastal flooding from Delaware to Long Island will gradually recede this weekend. Sunday will be the clear pick for any outdoor activities with much better conditions.
(5:55 p.m. ET) Climate Change Is Driving More Intense Rainfall
On average, the U.S. is measuring 6% more precipitation now than it did a century ago. The increase comes in the wake of increasing global temperatures that scientists say is brought on by greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels for transportation and electricity.
That means communities across the U.S. could face more instances of dangerous flooding. Cities, including New York City, are struggling to keep up.
“The sad reality is our climate is changing faster than our infrastructure can respond," Rohit Aggarwala, NYC Dept. of Environmental Protections Commissioner, said in a news conference earlier today.
(5:36 p.m. ET) Flooding Brings Back Memories Of Ida's Horror
Queen's resident Joy Wong watched as water lapped against the front door of her building today.
“I was so worried,” she told The Associated Press.
“Outside was like a lake, like an ocean."
Three of Wong's neighbors, including a toddler, died when the remnants of Hurricane Ida flooded basement apartments two years ago.
Afterward, the basement where the family died in Wong's building was turned into a recreation room.
Now it's flooded again, with water rising nearly to the ceiling.
New York City officials said today's rainfall flooded at least six basement apartments. All of the occupants were safe.
(5:14 p.m. ET) Wayward Sea Lion Briefly Escapes Flooded Zoo Pool
A female sea lion at Central Park Zoo was able to swim out of her pool and spend some time checking things out thanks to the floodwaters.
"Zoo staff monitored the sea lion as she explored the area before returning to the familiar surroundings of the pool and the other two sea lions," a statement from zoo officials said, according to the New York Post.
The zoo was closed at the time due to the weather. The statement noted that water levels have receded and the sea was contained inside the zoo with no danger to her or humans.
(3:35 p.m. ET) State Of Emergency In New Jersey
"Residents should stay off the roads, remain alert, and follow all safety protocols," Gov. Phil Murphy said in an emergency declaration issued around 3 p.m.
The National Weather Service has a flood watch out for New Jersey through late tonight and showers could linger into Saturday morning.
(2:49 p.m. ET) JFK Sets Record, Central Park Has Wettest Day Since Ida
John F. Kennedy International Airport has now had nearly 8 inches of rain, its wettest day in records dating back to 1948.
Central Park has had its wettest day since flooding two years ago brought on by remnants of Hurricane Ida. Through 2 p.m., the park had picked up 5.39 inches of rain today. It's also the 9th wettest all-time day in records going back to 1869.
Some other top rainfall amounts around the region:
-8.69 inches in Valley Stream, New York
-7.27 inches in Brooklyn, New York
-4.84 inches near Greenwich, Connecticut
-3.71 inches in Ramsey, New Jersey
-2.9 inches in Hoboken, New Jersey.
(2:38 p.m. ET) NYC Schools Lift Shelter-In-Place Order
Schools are proceeding with normal dismissal times, according to the latest update from the school district.
"The NYCPS shelter-in-place guidance has been lifted, and parents should expect delays in busing as they safely navigate their way home," the district said.
(2:27) New York City Cancels School Sports
The NYC Public Schools Athletic League has canceled all competitions for today and tonight. The announcement cites severe flooding and disruptions to transportation.
(2:12 p.m. ET) Whirlpool Forms Over Manhole
A whirlpool was spotted above a storm drain on a flooded street in Brooklyn. Fires were also reported in several manholes and subway grates, The New York Times reported. Such fires can happen when water hits power lines under the street, according to the Times.
(1:58 p.m. ET) NYC Sets Preliminary Rainfall Record
Today is preliminarily the wettest September day on record at John F. Kennedy International Airport with more than 6 inches of rain reported there since midnight, according to the National Weather Service.
That would eclipse a record 5.83 inches that fell during Hurricane Donna on Sept. 12, 1960.
Records at JFK go back to 1948.
(1:31 p.m. ET) Full Moon Contributed To High Water Levels
From weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles: The slow-moving storm system that is causing flooding in the tri-state area will trudge eastward and away from the region this weekend along with its abundant moisture and upper-level support.
This slow-moving storm wasn't the only culprit in the flooding along the East Coast. Strong onshore flow from the Atlantic and the full moon have raised water levels along the coast and have caused flooding from Long Island to northeast Florida. New York City has also had a rather wet stretch recently too, most recently with rainfall coming from Tropical Storm Ophelia.
(1:18 p.m. ET) 'When It Stops The Buses, You Know It's Bad'
High school student Malachi Clark tried to take a bus and then a train to get home to Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.
“When it stops the buses, you know it’s bad,” Clark told The Associated Press as he stared at a flooded intersection, not sure how to proceed.
Students from PS 312 in Brooklyn were evacuated due to a boiler that was smoking. NYC schools previously named a different school but issued a correction
Schools chancellor David Banks said flooding affected about 150 schools out of more than 1,400, the Gothamist reported.
(1:09 p.m. ET) Hoboken Declares State Of Emergency
“My utmost priority, and that of the Office of Emergency Management is the life, health, and safety of our residents,” Hoboken, New Jersey, Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a news release. “Due to the flooding in Hoboken and throughout the tri-state area, I urge residents to stay off roads and only travel if it is essential, especially during the evening rush hour when we anticipate more rain. I also ask everyone to please not move barricades, and to not walk or drive through floodwaters."
The mayor's office noted that students will be dismissed at regular times, but all after-school activities are canceled.
(12:59 p.m. ET) Up To 7 Inches Of Rain In Tri-State Area
"Generally between 2 and 7 inches of rain has already fallen in the tri-state area," weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman said.
That includes all five boroughs in New York as well as into Hudson Valley and parts of New Jersey.
The rain fell at a rate of up to 2.5 inches an hour this morning, Erdman said.
(12:47 p.m. ET) Water Rescues Underway In New Jersey
Video shared by Fairfield Police Department in Essex County, New Jersey, shows a first responder pulling a driver from a vehicle stranded in waist-high floodwaters.
"Please understand this flooding is serious," the accompanying Facebook post says. "Do not drive into flooded waters or around barricades. If you find yourself trapped, stay calm and dial 911."
(12:26 p.m. ET) Brooklyn School Evacuated
Students from Brooklyn's PS 312 are being moved to another school three blocks away. The evacuation is due to smoke coming from a boiler, according to NYC public schools. In other locations, students are sheltering in place and flood protocols have been enacted.
The school district originally announced a different school had been affected.
"A portion of our schools took in water, but nothing has impacted their ability to safely educate students," the district said in an update.
(12:15 p.m. ET) NYC Mayor: Stay Home Or Shelter In Place
New York Mayor Eric Adams issued a state of emergency for the city and told residents "this is time for heightened alertness and extreme caution."
"If you are home, stay home, if you are at work or school shelter in place for now," Adams said in a briefing shortly before noon. "Some of our subways are flooded and it's extremely difficult to move around the city."
(12:08 p.m. ET) Photos Show Submerged Vehicles, Clogged Streets
Click through our slideshow below of photos from the Northeast flooding, or view it at this link.
(MORE: This Is Why You Don't Drive Through Flooded Roads)
(12:05 p.m. ET) Mets-Phillies Game Postponed
The Major League Baseball matchup between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies is postponed due to weather. The rain out will be made up as part of a single admission doubleheader tomorrow afternoon.
(12:01 p.m. ET) Heavy Rainfall Continues In NYC
From weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles: The greater New York City area has seen more than 5 inches of rain in spots with heavy rain still coming down. Rainfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour are possible at times through this afternoon, which could lead to another 3-6 inches of rain before skies clear.
(11:37 a.m. ET) Residents Advised To Be Ready To Move To Higher Ground
"Heavy rain in NYC causing flooding of streets & low-lying areas, including basements," New York City Emergency Management said in an alert posted online. "Prepare to move to higher ground if needed as flooding may occur with little to no notice and can be life-threatening. If you must travel, exercise caution and avoid flooded roadways."
(11:15 a.m. ET) Deadly Flooding Hit NYC Two Years Ago
Today's flooding comes just two years after remnants of Hurricane Ida brought deadly record rainfall to New York and other parts of the Northeast. At least 11 people died in flooded apartments in New York City.
(MORE: Five Reasons To Avoid Walking Through Floodwaters)
(11 a.m. ET) Hundreds Of Flights Affected At LaGuardia Airport
Access to LaGuardia's Terminal A was closed as of about 11 a.m. EDT and people were told to avoid the area.
“We are experiencing delays because of weather conditions. For further updates/ questions, we recommend you contact your airline,” a social media post from the airport said.
More than 300 flights to or from LaGuardia were canceled or delayed, according to airline tracker FlightAware.com
(10:45 a.m. ET) What's Causing All The Rain In New York City?
The rain is the result of a stalled coastal low offshore.
"Weak low pressure has developed off the Northeast Seaboard, wrapping deep, tropical moisture into the Northeast, including New York City," Erdman said. "With weak upper level winds, there's nothing to steer this area of rain away quickly."
Some spots could pick up at least several more inches of rain before it should start to taper off late this evening.
(Information from The Associated Press was used in this article.)
Weather.com reporter Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
No comments:
Post a Comment