New York City is currently under a Flood Watch, with the National Weather Service forecasting the possibility of life-threatening flash floods. The alert extends to parts of Long Island, the Hudson Valley, most of Connecticut, northern New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania.
AccuWeather reports that some areas could experience 2 to 5 inches of rain, with localized amounts reaching 2 to 3 inches per hour. The Mid-Hudson and Long Island regions have a moderate chance of flash flooding, while the Capital Region and Mohawk Valley face a slight chance. The rest of New York state has a marginal chance of flash floods.
Heavy rainfall is expected to continue through Wednesday morning. The Catskills region could see totals of 6 to 8 inches in a matter of hours, potentially making travel hazardous. In anticipation of the severe weather, hundreds of flights were canceled across New York area airports on Tuesday, including 117 at JFK, 109 at LaGuardia, and 61 at Newark, affecting an estimated 10 to 20% of all flights.
The Flood Watch affects all five New York boroughs, as well as Nassau, Westchester, Orange, Putnam, and Rockland Counties. In New Jersey, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union Counties are also under threat. Connecticut's Fairfield and New Haven Counties are included in the alert.
Governor Kathy Hochul urged residents to remain vigilant and informed. "New York State will be experiencing a prolonged rain event beginning Tuesday that will bring heavy rains and cause flash flooding – New Yorkers should stay vigilant, stay informed, and use caution," Hochul stated. She also advised residents to "monitor your local forecast and when in doubt, turn around, don't drown."
Monday night already saw powerful storms across New Jersey, contributing to flash flooding, heavy rain, lightning, and hail.