NYC & NJ Devastated by Flash Floods

Severe storms brought unprecedented flash flooding to New York City and New Jersey on Monday night and Tuesday morning, resulting in tragic consequences and widespread disruption.

Two fatalities were reported in Plainfield, New Jersey, where a car was swept away by floodwaters. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency.

<br>

Manhattan's Central Park recorded over 2 inches of rain in just one hour – the second highest amount ever recorded in a 60-minute period. This led to major flooding in several subway stations, with videos circulating online showing water gushing into stations.

<br>

The city's aging sewer system, designed to handle only 1.75 inches of rain per hour, was overwhelmed by the storm's intensity, which exceeded 4 inches per hour at its peak. This caused significant travel disruptions across airports, highways, and railways.

<br>

Westchester County also experienced severe flooding, requiring multiple water rescues as cars were submerged and highways closed. Rockland County reported over 5 inches of rainfall in some areas.

<br>

Governor Murphy attributed the increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events to climate change. He stated, "That's the new reality." The storm highlighted the vulnerability of infrastructure to severe weather.

<img src="https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/heavy-rain-causes-flooding-in-westchester-new-york/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjU6bmV3c21sX1JDMjFORkFDMVJORg%3D%3D/?utm_medium=rcom-article-media&utm_campaign=rcom-rcp-lead" alt="Flooded street in Westchester, NY">