New York City experienced heavy rain and thunderstorms, resulting in motorists stranded on their cars due to sudden flash flooding.
The city was battered with rain, and there were reports of wind gusts reaching up to 90 mph, with dramatic footage capturing crushed vehicles.
Charlton D’Souza, a resident of Queens and founder of the nonprofit Passengers United, found himself on an MTA bus when the flooding hit Queens Village.
“This is the worst flooding I’ve ever seen on Hempstead Avenue,” he expressed, as noted by Storyful.
Queens and Brooklyn were particularly affected, reportedly receiving two inches of rain in just an hour, according to data from Mesonet, New York, as CNN also pointed out.
A video captured a good Samaritan navigating the floodwaters on Jackie Robinson Parkway to save a driver stranded atop his vehicle.
Authorities had to close an underpass near 78th Street, which left two cars trapped under several feet of water, as mentioned by CBS.
“It was violent and very, very fast,” Christina Mroon recounted.
She added, “The van almost floated away. It was really crazy.”
A driver in Fresh Meadows compared the inundated road to a “swimming pool,” while Joe Conti mentioned that the water was so high, he couldn’t open his car door.
The severe rain led to schools canceling extracurricular activities.
Footage from Fulton Street in Brooklyn showed two individuals standing on a bus stop bench amidst rising floodwaters.
In Bushwick, a woman struggled to carry her shopping bags home, and another attempted to direct water into a drain.
A resident described the scene in Hillside, Jamaica, Queens, as almost biblical, noting that the flood hit “within 25 minutes.”
Lizzie from Forest Hills remarked on how “dangerous” the flash flooding was.
She mentioned, “With the trains stopped, we had to wade through at least a foot of water to cross the road.”
The heavy rain triggered widespread travel disruptions, impacting services on the F and J subway lines.
F line service was halted at the Kew Gardens Union Turnpike Station and Jamaica 179 Street Station, as reported by PIX11.
Alterations were also made to the E, M, R, and J lines, with New Yorkers advised to stay alert and take precautions as more thunderstorms approached.
New York City emergency management officials issued warnings: “If you are in immediate danger, trapped in rising waters, or if your life is in danger, please call 911.”
They further advised, “If you hear thunder, come indoors. The main concern tonight is wind damage. Seek shelter in a solid building away from windows.”
Residents were advised against traversing rooftops, balconies, and were told to avoid glass doors and electric equipment. When thunderstorms are active, staying indoors is the safest choice.
Those living in low-lying areas were urged to move to higher ground in the event of flooding.
“Never walk, swim or drive through flood water,” officials warned.
The rainy weather arrives just days before the Memorial Day weekend, with forecasts indicating cooler temperatures than recent days.
Though Wednesday had a high of 93 degrees, temperatures are expected to plunge to 57 degrees by Saturday.
Scattered showers are likely on Sunday, with Memorial Day potentially seeing a high of only 68 degrees, according to NBC4.
Anyone contemplating outdoor plans for Sunday should reconsider, as the forecast suggests it won’t be ideal for beach activities.
