Overview
- Heavy thunderstorms on Wednesday night produced torrential rain and damaging gusts that caused sudden flash floods across low‑lying areas of Brooklyn and Queens and other boroughs.
- Officials issued flood and severe‑thunderstorm warnings and urged residents to shelter indoors and call 911 if trapped while emergency teams worked overnight on rescues and public safety.
- Multiple subway lines, including E, F and J, saw delays or partial suspensions after stations and stairwells flooded and transit crews began water removal and inspections.
- The city’s Department of Environmental Protection said parts of the city received rainfall equivalent to roughly 6 inches per hour while the sewer system is designed for about 1.75 inches per hour, explaining why drains were quickly overwhelmed.
- Viral videos and local reports showed submerged cars, people stranded on roofs and benches, and flooding inside buildings such as 770 Eastern Parkway, and city officials say recovery and infrastructure assessments are continuing.