Heavy rains triggered flash floods in New York City and northern New Jersey, prompting New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to declare a state of emergency.
Residents, especially those in basement apartments, were urged to prepare for evacuation as water levels rose rapidly.
The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings across NYC’s five boroughs, with over an inch of rain reported in Staten Island and Manhattan by early evening.
By early evening, Chelsea had accumulated 1.47 inches of rain, with meteorologists anticipating additional showers to intensify later in the night.
NYC Emergency Management advised basement residents to stay alert with essentials ready. Videos on social media showed flooded streets and overwhelmed responders, particularly in areas like Plainfield, NJ.
In Metuchen, Mayor Jonathan Busch reported police rescues of stranded motorists and said many areas faced significant flooding. A local high school was opened as a shelter.
