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NYC deluged by rainfall in one of city's wettest days in decades

By Fox 5 NY Staff
Updated  September 29, 2023 6:29pm EDT
New York
FOX 5 NY

Flooding derails public transportation

Heavy rain has shut down sections of New York City's subway system and flooded streets and highways. FOX 5 NY’s Antwan Lewis reports.

NEW YORK - Rain walloped the New York metropolitan area with a startling punch Friday, knocking out several subway and commuter rail lines, stranding drivers on highways, flooding basements and shuttering a terminal at LaGuardia Airport for hours in one of the city's wettest days in decades.

Almost 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain had fallen in parts of Brooklyn by midday, with at least one spot seeing 2.5 inches (6 centimeters) in a single hour, according to weather and city officials. The nearly 8 inches (20 centimeters) at John F. Kennedy Airport surpassed its record for any September day, a bar set during Hurricane Donna in 1960, the National Weather Service said.

And more downpours were expected.

Mayor Eric Adams issued a state of emergency for NYC Friday afternoon. His message to New Yorkers: "If you are at home, stay home. If you are at work or school, shelter in place."

Heavy rainfall, flooding slams Long Island

It will be a long night for people on Long Island, where flooding forced sewage water into some homes. FOX 5 NY's Stephanie Bertini has the story.

Adams said that it was a time for "heightened alertness and extreme caution."

"It is not over," the mayor said, despite the rain subsiding in some areas of the city.

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A general view of a flooded street in Williamsburg, New York, United States on September 29, 2023. (Photo by Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

As of 10 p.m., National Weather Service had reported the following rainfall totals:

  • Midtown Manhattan: 6.16 inches
  • JFK Airport, Queens: 8.58 inches
  • Brooklyn: 7.21 inches
  • Fordham, Bronx: 6.26 inches
  • Valley Stream, Nassau County: 7.61 inches
  • New Rochelle, Westchester County: 5.87 inches
  • Greenwich, CT: 5.04 inches
  • Hoboken, NJ: 3.48 inches

RELATED: How much rain has fallen across NYC and the Tri-State area?

Major flooding in Brooklyn

Roads turned into gushing rivers as torrential rainfall caused major flooding throughout Brooklyn on Friday.

As a result, many parts of Queens and Brooklyn experienced major flooding, frustrating drivers and residents. 

Vehicles have been pressing through several inches of water after heavy rain triggered flash floods in the area.

The mayor urged New Yorkers to check on neighbors and those most at risk during the storm.

RELATED: Flash floods in Brooklyn cause major commuter delays

The heavy rains are causing travel disruptions across the subway system, with many lines being suspended or rerouted.

Metro-North railroad service on the Harlem, Hudson, and New Haven lines is suspended between Manhattan and the Bronx with service on the Hudson line facing delays.

All lanes of the FDR Drive are also closed in both directions at Delancey Street.

In New Jersey, several counties remain under flash flood warnings. In Hoboken, many streets were forced to close to traffic and the city has declared a state of emergency. 

There's also some major issues at local airports. According to flightaware.com, 105 flights in the New York area have been delayed and 59 canceled. Nationwide, there are more than 2,900 delays and more than 300 cancellations.

Terminal A at LaGuardia has even been closed due to flooding.

RELATED: NYC weather: Parts of Queens see major road flooding

Runoff from the storm will likely cause more flash flooding in urban and poor drainage areas, as well as along small rivers and streams.

LINK: For the latest information go to www.nyc.gov/notify.