Severe flash flooding swept through parts of New York and New Jersey on Monday night, resulting in two fatalities and prompting local authorities to issue a state of emergency.
Flash Flooding Claims Two Lives in New York and New Jersey
Flash Flooding Claims Two Lives in New York and New Jersey
Torrential rains lead to state of emergency declaration and severe impacts in the region.
Heavy rains rocked New York and New Jersey on Monday night, leading to tragic outcomes as flooding resulted in two deaths and a declaration of a state of emergency by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Emergency crews conducted multiple rescues as vehicles became stranded amidst rising waters. In Plainfield, New Jersey, the fatalities were a result of a car being swept away by floodwaters during the adverse weather conditions.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warns of impending storms on Tuesday, indicating a likelihood of further flooding across the northeast, as well as parts of Florida and the Midwest. As of Tuesday morning, numerous major roadways in New Jersey were closed due to the floods, which also caused significant delays in the New York City subway system.
New Jersey witnessed upwards of 6 inches (15 cm) of rain within just a few hours on Tuesday evening, leading to disruptions, including flight delays at Newark Liberty International Airport. In Scotch Plains, emergency crews engaged in dramatic rescues, employing ropes to extricate a man trapped in his vehicle amid the deluge.
The flooding had severe implications for New York City's public transit as well, inundating subway stations and forcing commuters to kneel atop their seats to avoid soaking in rising waters. The city recorded its second-highest hourly rainfall in over eight decades, measuring 2 inches of rain within a half-hour window.
Furthermore, parts of Virginia were also impacted, with cities like Colonial Heights and Petersburg facing significant flooding threats as rated by the NWS. Fortunately, as of now, the most intense rainfall had shifted eastward and was diminishing in strength, though officials urged citizens to remain vigilant about road closures.
This weather calamity follows closely on the heels of a separate severe flooding incident in south-central Texas that claimed over 130 lives, with many individuals still reported missing.
