Flash flood warning issued for NYC, N.J. declares emergency as heavy rains soak space


A view reveals a flooded subway station in New York, U.S., July 14, 2025, on this screengrab obtained from a social media video.

Juan Luis Landaeta | By way of Reuters

New Yorkers in basement flats had been advised to be prepared to depart Monday and New Jersey’s governor declared a state of emergency after heavy rains within the northeast prompted flash flooding.

Western Union County, New Jersey, skilled life-threatening flash flooding by storms that had been practically stationary Monday night, the Nationwide Climate Service workplace for the New York Metropolis area mentioned.

“Please keep indoors and keep away from pointless journey,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy mentioned in saying he was declaring a state of emergency because of the heavy rainfall.

No deaths appeared to have been reported within the showers that soaked the New York Metropolis space, which forecasters mentioned weakened and moved east by round 10 p.m.

All 5 boroughs of New York Metropolis had been positioned beneath a flash flood warning Monday night. That warning expired, however the space was beneath a flash flood watch till midnight.

Emergency administration officers warned residents of basement flats to be prepared to depart.

“For those who stay in a basement house, keep alert. Flash flooding can occur with little warning, together with in a single day,” New York Metropolis Emergency Administration mentioned on X. “Hold a telephone, flashlight, and Go Bag close by. Be prepared to maneuver to greater floor.”

Video on social media confirmed folks wading out into floodwaters above their knees Monday in New Windfall, New Jersey, round 10 miles west of Newark.

In Westchester County in New York, north of New York Metropolis, there have been “quite a few calls” about autos submerged in floodwaters on roads, prompting rescues by first responders, the county authorities mentioned.

Early rainfall reviews Monday night in New York Metropolis included 1.67 inches in Staten Island and 1.47 inches within the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York Metropolis Emergency Administration mentioned on X at round 7:30 p.m. — and it cautioned extra rain was forecast Monday evening.

LaGuardia Worldwide Airport and Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport each reported flight disruptions because of the climate, and John F. Kennedy Airport warned of doable issues. All three airports led in cancellations Monday evening on monitoring web site FlightAware.

Floor stops attributable to thunderstorms had been issued for LaGuardia and Newark airports Monday night, the Federal Aviation Administration web site confirmed, and lengthy delays had been reported in any respect three.

Standing water on the Cross Bronx Expressway prompted the site visitors artery to be closed in each instructions at Macombs Highway, emergency officers mentioned.

There was additionally standing water on FDR Drive that was inflicting delays Monday evening, in addition to standing water on Harlem River Drive, town warned.

The rain wreaked havoc on metropolis subway strains. New York Metropolis Transit mentioned that 1, 2, and three trains in Manhattan had been suspended after flooding at stations, and that E, M and R trains had been “severely disrupted.”

The Staten Island Railway suspended service in each instructions within the southern a part of the borough due to floods.

The Nationwide Climate Service warned earlier Monday that showers and thunderstorms might deliver rainfall charges of as much as 2 inches an hour, and as much as 3 inches in complete might fall within the New York Metropolis space.

By simply after 10 p.m., the heaviest rainfall had moved east of New York Metropolis and weakened, and the showers had been forecast to minimize in depth all through the evening, the climate service workplace for the area mentioned.