New York City faced severe disruptions on Saturday as flash floods overwhelmed streets, subways, and airports following heavy thunderstorms. Between 2 and 4 inches of rain fell across lower Manhattan, western Brooklyn, and parts of Queens, with downpours reaching up to an inch per hour.
Subways and streets submerged
Social media videos captured commuters wading through knee-deep water in SoHo, while trash cans and umbrellas floated down flooded avenues. At Canal Street station, water cascaded down staircases and poured through ceiling leaks onto platforms. Drivers on the Long Island Expressway and Clearview Expressway faced temporary closures, and vehicles were submerged on a roadway above the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
Air travel and transit delays
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported major service disruptions as runoff flooded tracks. Airports including LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark Liberty faced significant delays, with some JFK arrivals averaging over 90-minute hold-ups. The disruptions coincided with the eve of the World Cup final in nearby New Jersey.
Official warnings and air quality
Governor Kathy Hochul urged residents to stay cautious, warning of potential power outages and further road closures. The storm followed days of hazardous air quality from Canadian wildfire smoke, though meteorologists noted the rain may help dissipate it. Emergency officials advised basement apartment residents to seek higher ground.
Improvements to air quality are not expected to be immediate.
