New York City faced a staggering deluge on Friday, with torrential rain wreaking havoc across the metropolitan area. The impact was felt as subway and commuter rail lines were knocked out, highways became impassable, basements flooded, and LaGuardia Airport’s terminal was temporarily shuttered. This marked one of the city’s wettest days in decades.
Record Rainfall
By nightfall, certain areas of Brooklyn had received more than 7.25 inches (18.41 centimeters) of rain, with a particularly astonishing 2.5 inches (6 centimeters) falling in just one hour. John F. Kennedy Airport recorded 8.65 inches (21.97 centimeters) of rainfall, surpassing its previous September record set during Hurricane Donna in 1960. The National Weather Service predicted further heavy rainfall.
Frightening Echoes of Hurricane Ida
This deluge evoked painful memories of Hurricane Ida, which struck the region two years prior, resulting in record-breaking rain and numerous casualties in New York City, particularly in flooded basement apartments. While no severe injuries or fatalities were reported from Friday’s storm, residents like Joy Wong, who lost neighbors during Ida, experienced anxiety as water encroached upon their homes once again.
Emergency Declarations and Transportation Disruptions
Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams declared state of emergency, urging residents to stay put. Despite the emergency, schools remained open, and students and workers faced transportation challenges. The subway system experienced significant disruptions, and bus services were affected citywide. Commuter rail services also faced disruptions, causing commuters to grapple with the challenges of getting to their destinations.
Chaos on Roads and Evacuations
Traffic on the FDR Drive ground to a halt as water levels rose above car tires, leading some drivers to abandon their vehicles. Stranded commuters faced uncertainty about their journeys home. Meanwhile, efforts to unclog storm drains and makeshift pedestrian walkways were seen in affected neighborhoods.
Impact on Air Travel, Schools and Sports events
LaGuardia Airport suspended flights due to water in the refueling area, leading to the closure of one terminal for several hours. Some schools in Brooklyn were evacuated, and others dealt with flooding issues in ground-floor classrooms.
Sports events were also affected, with the New York Rangers and New York Islanders postponing a preseason game. At the Central Park Zoo, a sea lion briefly left her enclosure due to the rain, adding to the unusual day’s events.
Meteorologists explained that the heavy rainfall resulted from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia merging with a mid-latitude system at a time when conditions were conducive to intense storms. The storm lingered over New York for an extended period, causing prolonged rainfall. Experts noted that while the planet’s warming contributes to more frequent extreme rainfall events, this specific storm occurred under somewhat unusual conditions, with ocean temperatures below normal.
Central Park witnessed its third occurrence of rainfall near 2 inches (5 centimeters) per hour in less than two years, despite atypical ocean and air temperatures. This trend underscores the growing challenges posed by extreme weather events in an evolving climate.
-The Financial Express
