Historic Flooding Drenches New York City

Overnight, New York City was hit by one of its wettest hours on record, with intense rains causing widespread flooding and chaos across the metropolis. Footage captured subway stations submerged in water, trapping numerous commuters and forcing station closures.

Approximately 2.07 inches of rain fell within an hour, making it the second heaviest single-hour rainfall ever documented in the city. The record was previously held by the nearly 3 inches recorded during the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in 2021.

Flooded New York City subway station — Subway stations flooded during the storm.

Subway lines including the 1, 2, and 3 were suspended across Manhattan, while other lines faced delays due to station flooding. Streets, including major highways like the Cross Bronx Expressway, were temporarily closed as emergency services issued flood warnings.

Storm clouds over Manhattan skyline — Storm clouds over New York City before thunderstorms.

Footage showed torrents of water pouring into subway platforms, some passengers standing on train seats to escape pooling water, while others expressed humorous exasperation. At the 28th Street station, a conductor is heard saying, “I can’t open the doors, it’s not safe,” as floodwaters rush in.

Other parts of the city witnessed water cascading through ceilings, and streets transformed into raging rivers. In nearby New Jersey, the storm prompted the governor to declare a state of emergency, urging residents to stay indoors and avoid travel.

Flooded neighborhood in North Plainfield — Floodwaters overwhelmed streets and caused a house to collapse, possibly due to an explosion, after residents evacuated.

Airports in the region, including JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark, experienced significant delays. Cars traversed flooded roads, and some neighborhoods saw properties damaged or destroyed by the relentless rainfall.

Flooded NYC subway platform — Subway platforms submerged by floodwaters.

Most flood warnings were lifted as the rain subsided, but lingering street flooding persisted into early Tuesday. Forecasters predicted scattered thunderstorms for the day but assured that impacts would be significantly less severe than the previous night’s deluge.