As a slow-moving front continued to promote thunderstorms and heavy rain across much of the country, parts of the Eastern Seaboard under a moderate risk warning for excessive rainfall saw flash flooding Monday evening.
Flash flood watches and warnings were in effect for parts of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas as heavy storms moved slowly through the region, dumping lots of rain.
The heavy rainfall saw vehicles stranded on roadways, and airports and subways temporarily closed.
A state of emergency was declared in New Jersey due to the flash flooding and heavy rainfall, with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy advising people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
Some buses and trains in New Jersey were also delayed due to flooding.
By Monday evening, water levels were already showing signs of receding.
“It looks like the worst of the storm is behind us and thankfully, everyone is safe,” Mayor Jonathan M. Busch of Metuchen, New Jersey, wrote on Facebook, describing significant flooding in his borough.
In New York, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said it suspended some subway services and reported some severe delays due to the flooding.
A video posted on social media appeared to show water flooding down into a Manhattan subway station, submerging the platform, while passengers inside a train watch. Another photo appears to show passengers standing on a train’s seats to avoid the water.
Officials in New York’s Westchester County were working to rescue people whose vehicles were submerged in water, according to Carolyn Fortino, a spokesperson for the county executive.
A flood warning was also issued for Staten Island, which had seen about 4 to 6 inches of rain, according to NYC’s emergency notification system.
