Massive flooding transformed New York City streets into raging rivers Thursday evening, trapping hundreds of commuters and forcing emergency crews to wade through ankle-deep water on major highways as nearly three inches of rain pummeled the region in minutes.
Highway Chaos and Water Rescues
The Long Island Expressway shut down in both directions at Francis Lewis Boulevard just before 7:30 p.m. Thursday as floodwaters overwhelmed the roadway. Fire department officers waded through ankle-deep water across the freeway while rows of vehicles sat stranded. Some desperate drivers climbed onto car roofs to keep their feet dry, while one motorist struggled to push a stalled gray Mercedes through rising water on 188th Street in Queens.
Parts of Long Island recorded 2.87 inches of rainfall as the deluge hit, according to local reports. The intense downpour happened so quickly that drainage systems in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood couldn’t handle the volume. Meanwhile across the river in Newark, New Jersey, rescue crews pulled one stranded driver to safety using a life raft. Other residents waded through knee-high floodwaters, clutching nearby trees for support.
Millions Under Weather Alerts
Weather officials issued a level 3 out of 4 flash flood risk for central and northern New Jersey and New York City Thursday afternoon. More than 15 million people across six states and the District of Columbia faced tornado watch warnings, affecting Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The severe weather system brought ferocious conditions that caught many commuters off guard during the evening rush hour.
Transportation Disruptions
The flooding caused significant delays on the A, C, and E subway lines early Friday morning, though transit authorities resolved those issues by mid-morning. City emergency management officials urged drivers to seek alternative routes around the closed expressway sections. The dramatic images and videos from the flooding showed the vulnerability of urban infrastructure when confronted with sudden, intense rainfall events that can turn ordinary streets into dangerous waterways within minutes.