NEW YORK, Jul 16 (Alliance News): Torrential storms slammed into the New York City area from Monday night into Tuesday, unleashing flash floods that killed two people in New Jersey, submerged subway stations, stranded vehicles, and brought the city’s transport network to a near standstill.
Emergency crews battled through the night as powerful downpours quickly overwhelmed the region’s ageing infrastructure. More than 2 inches (5 cm) of rain fell in just one hour in Manhattan’s Central Park — the second highest on record — causing water to pour into underground train stations and residential streets.
Footage from Monday evening showed dramatic scenes of floodwaters cascading down stairways and bursting into stations, particularly on Manhattan’s West Side.
“The city’s infrastructure simply couldn’t cope,” said New York City’s Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala, explaining that the sewer system was designed for a maximum of 1.75 inches (4.44 cm) of rainfall per hour — far less than the over 4 inches recorded during the peak of the storm.
Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged the unprecedented scale of the rainfall. “I probably don’t recall seeing that level of rain before,” he said.
In neighbouring New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency after two people were found dead in the city of Plainfield. Their car was swept away and later discovered submerged, with both victims inside.
Murphy said some areas were inundated with over 6 inches (15.25 cm) of rain in just over two hours, triggering flash floods in zones previously untouched by such disasters. “That’s the new reality,” the governor remarked, blaming the incident on the escalating impacts of climate change.
The National Weather Service reported over 5 inches (12.7 cm) of rainfall in Nanuet, Rockland County, while Westchester County saw dozens of rescues from flooded vehicles and homes. Major airports, highways, and train services faced severe delays and cancellations due to the waterlogged conditions.
Officials across the region warned that the frequency of such weather events would likely increase as global temperatures rise.
