Context:

Torrential rains caused flash flooding in New York and New Jersey, resulting in the deaths of two people and prompting New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to declare a state of emergency. The floods stranded drivers, necessitating rescues, and forced the closure of major roads in New Jersey, while subway services in both New York City and New Jersey faced significant delays. New Jersey experienced over 6 inches of rain within hours, causing flight disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport. Floodwaters inundated New York City subway stations, compelling passengers to take extreme measures to avoid the rising water. The National Weather Service warned of additional storms with potential flooding in the northeast, Florida, and the midwestern US, while emphasizing the need for caution with road closures as the heaviest rainfall began to diminish and move eastward.

Dive Deeper:

• New York City and New Jersey were hit by severe flash flooding due to heavy rains, leading to two fatalities in Plainfield, New Jersey, where a car was swept away by floodwaters.

• Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency as officials conducted rescues for stranded drivers amidst the rapidly rising floodwaters, which also caused the closure of several main roads in New Jersey.

• The National Weather Service forecasted additional storms with the potential for further flooding across the northeast, Florida, and the midwestern US, urging residents to adhere to road closures.

• Over 6 inches of rain fell in New Jersey within a few hours, causing significant delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport and requiring dramatic rescues, such as using ropes to extract people from cars.

• Subway stations in New York City were overwhelmed by floodwaters, forcing passengers to kneel on seats to stay dry, as the city experienced its second-highest hourly rainfall in over 80 years with 2 inches falling in 30 minutes.

• The flooding extended to parts of Virginia, with the National Weather Service warning that cities like Colonial Heights and Petersburg could face catastrophic damage.

• Despite the heaviest rains moving east and weakening, authorities continued to stress the importance of safety and awareness of ongoing road closures.