New York City was inundated by record-setting rainfall on Friday, overwhelming the city’s sewer system and causing floodwaters to surge through streets, basements, schools, subways, and vehicles. This deluge caught many commuters off guard during the Friday morning rush hour. First responders swiftly sprang into action, rescuing individuals from stranded cars and rapidly filling basements.
John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York received nearly 8 inches of rain in a single day, marking the highest amount since 1948. Brooklyn experienced a month’s worth of rain within just three hours, with some of the most intense rainfall rates during the storm’s peak on Friday morning. Climate scientists attribute these unprecedented rainfall totals to climate change, as a warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapor and release it in intense bursts that can overwhelm outdated flood protection systems.
Rohit Aggarwala, New York City’s Chief Climate Officer, stated in a Friday morning news conference that the changing weather patterns are a result of climate change, and unfortunately, climate change is outpacing the capacity of the city’s infrastructure to adapt.
By late Friday afternoon, a widespread 3 to 6 inches of rain had fallen across New York City, with more rain expected through the evening before gradually tapering off.
In response to the flooding, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley, emphasizing the life-threatening conditions and urging residents to stay home. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also declared a state of emergency for his state.
The New York City Fire Department conducted rescues in six flooded basements, and floodwaters affected 150 of the city’s 1,400 schools, although they remained open. Flooding in a Brooklyn school led to an evacuation due to the boiler emitting smoke. Subways, railways, and train lines were disrupted, with service suspensions on several train lines in Brooklyn and all three Metro-North train lines. Additional buses were deployed to compensate for the train outages, and limited service gradually resumed by Friday evening.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) fully restored service on seven subway lines by Friday evening, and MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber reported that one of the three Metro-North Railroad lines, the Hudson line, was back in operation. The MTA was working to restore limited service to the remaining two lines by Friday night.
Flight delays impacted all three New York City area airports, with flooding temporarily closing the Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia Airport. However, it reopened later on Friday night.
Flood warnings were issued due to swollen rivers and creeks, and some remained in effect into Saturday morning in parts of Connecticut, New Jersey, and southern New York.
In summary, New York City experienced an extraordinary deluge of rainfall that led to widespread flooding, transportation disruptions, and emergency declarations, underscoring the impact of climate change on extreme weather events.
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