NEW YORK (PIX11) — A severe coastal storm walloped New York City Friday, disrupting several subway and commuter lines, leaving drivers stranded on highways, and record levels of rain.
Approximately 8.65 inches of rain had fallen at John F. Kennedy Airport by 9 p.m. on Friday, surpassing Hurricane Irene’s daily record set back on Aug. 14, 2011, the National Weather Service said. Parts of Brooklyn recorded 7.35 inches of rainfall.
Rainfall totals by Friday night were:
- Central Park: 5.80 inches
- Midtown Manhattan: 6.09 inches
- JFK Airport: 8.65 inches
- Howard Beach: 7.86 inches
- Prospect Park: 6.73 inches
- Fordham: 6.19 inches
- Staten Island: 2.93 inches
“We’ve seen a whole lot of rain fall in a very short period of time, which caused many issues related to transportation and power, but the good news is that the storm will pass, and we should see some clearing of waterways today and tonight,” Gov. Hochul said. “I urge everyone to continue practicing safety as floodwaters recede and take extra care when traveling.”
The National Weather Service issued numerous flash flood warnings and Mayor Eric Adams declared a State of Emergency during a news conference with Gov. Kathy Hochul and other officials Friday. New Yorkers were warned to shelter in place amid the severe weather.
“This is a dangerous weather condition and it is not over,” he said.
Officials also warned New Yorkers living in basement apartments to prepare for potential flooding. At least six basement apartments flooded – all with successful rescues, city officials said.
As of Saturday morning, subway service has been restored on most subway lines after the subway system flooded.
Charline Charles is a digital journalist from Brooklyn who has covered local news along with culture and arts in the New York City area since 2019. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.
