New York City has endured its rainiest August in at least five years, accumulating over 8 inches of precipitation so far this month. This total makes August 2026 significantly wetter than the past four years, which saw rainfall totals ranging from 2.21 inches last August to 10.32 inches in August 2021, partly due to Tropical Storm Henri. The wettest August on record for the city occurred in 2011, when 18.95 inches of rain fell, influenced by Tropical Storm Irene.
Recent powerful storms have contributed to the high rainfall totals. A flash storm on Thursday delivered nearly three inches of rain, overwhelming city streets. On Sunday, approximately an inch and a half of rain fell within a few hours, leading to localized flooding. Senior AccuWeather meteorologist Carl Erickson noted that the heavy rain events this summer, including in August, have often occurred over short periods. "Given how the city is laid out with a lot of pavement, that can quickly lead to those flash flooding concerns," Erickson stated.
The intense rainfall has caused transportation disruptions. Early Sunday, flooding trapped two cars near Exit 5 of the Clearview Expressway in Queens, and briefly closed lanes on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Long Island Expressway. Fire Department of New York personnel assisted in the safe evacuation of the occupants from the submerged vehicles.
While a brief respite from the heavy rain is expected, another chance for scattered showers and localized flooding is forecast for Thursday. Following this, a dry stretch is anticipated for the following week.
Looking ahead, temperatures this fall are predicted to be above historical averages, with precipitation levels expected to be around average. However, Erickson cautioned that a developing El Niño climate pattern could introduce more unpredictable weather events, potentially altering current forecasts. The National Weather Service has indicated a 90% probability of a "very strong" El Niño event in the Northern Hemisphere this fall and winter.