Severe flash flooding in the northeastern United States has led to the tragic deaths of two individuals in New Jersey. On July 15, authorities reported that a slow-moving summer storm triggered torrential rain, resulting in widespread travel disruptions across the region.
In New Jersey, a flood warning was issued until Tuesday morning, as the National Weather Service (NWS) anticipated continued heavy rainfall affecting the Mid-Atlantic area into the latter part of the week.
The NWS stated that a moisture-rich summer airmass over the eastern and central United States will persist, sustaining the potential for thunderstorms and heavy downpours.
During these intense storms on Monday night, parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland experienced devastating rainfall, with two fatalities reported in Plainfield, New Jersey, when a vehicle was swept into a river. Emergency responders could not save the victims, marking an unfortunate recurrence, as a previous storm on July 3 had also claimed two lives in the same state.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy expressed concern about the increasing frequency of such weather events, stating, “We New Jersey, we America, we the globe, are getting dragged by climate.”
In New York City, emergency officials advised residents in low-lying or basement apartments to seek higher ground as rainwater rapidly flooded the area. The downpour turned Manhattan’s major avenues into torrents, with commuters taking shelter under building canopies and bus stops during the evening rush hour.
Floodwaters inundated several major subway stations, prompting passengers to share alarming images of water surging past ticket barriers and reaching electrified tracks.
Reports indicated that dozens of passengers were trapped on a train at the flooded 28th Street station. Additionally, major airports including JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark temporarily suspended flight departures due to severe weather, leading to the cancellation of multiple flights.
Meteorologist Christopher Tate from the FOX Forecast Center noted that New York City experienced its “second wettest single hour ever recorded,” with over two inches of rain falling within that timeframe.
In response to the crisis, the Governor of New Jersey declared a state of emergency, urging residents to remain indoors. Authorities throughout the region, stretching as far south as North Carolina, cautioned against dangerous driving conditions as cleanup operations commenced.
The NWS reinforced its message to drivers, emphasizing, “turn around” when encountering flooded roads, as the majority of flood-related deaths occur within vehicles.
In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, severe flash flooding led to a disaster declaration, with emergency teams undertaking over 16 water rescues. The local fire department reported that intense rainfall accumulated more than seven inches in less than five hours.
Staten Island recorded an astonishing 10-15 centimeters of rain on Monday night, as documented by the borough’s emergency notification system. In light of these devastating floods, Democrat Zohran Mamdani, a candidate for mayor of New York, highlighted the urgent need for climate-proofing the city, stating, “We must upgrade our infrastructure for this new climate reality.”
This recent weather disaster follows the historic flooding that struck central Texas during the Fourth of July, resulting in over 131 fatalities and leaving hundreds missing. Furthermore, North Carolina experienced the impact of Tropical Storm Chantal last week, which tragically claimed the lives of five people, as confirmed by Governor Josh Stein.
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