A state of emergency has been declared in New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley following extreme rainfall that caused widespread flooding in the northeast region. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the emergency measure after up to 13cm (five inches) of rain fell in some areas overnight, with an additional 18cm (seven inches) expected throughout the day.

In a statement on social media, Governor Hochul referred to the storm as “dangerous” and “life-threatening,” warning residents to brace for the next 20 hours of challenging conditions. The relentless rain led to the shutdown of significant portions of the city’s subway system, inundated streets and highways, and resulted in the closure of at least one terminal at LaGuardia Airport in Queens.

Nearly every subway line experienced partial suspension, rerouting, or delays, while two out of the three Metro-North Railroad lines were suspended. Chaos during rush hour saw some drivers abandoning their vehicles as traffic ground to a halt on FDR Drive, a major road along the east side of Manhattan. Reports indicated that traffic had not moved on this stretch for hours.

Approximately 23 million people in parts of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut were under flood watches, with flash flood warnings issued for sections of Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and New Jersey. The National Weather Service cautioned about flooding throughout Friday, predicting rainfall rates of up to two inches (5.1 centimetres) per hour and a potential total accumulation of seven inches (18 centimetres).

The heavy rain resulted from a low-pressure system along the mid-Atlantic coast, drawing in moist air from the ocean. This event evokes memories of Hurricane Ida in September 2021, which brought devastating flooding to the region, claiming 13 lives, many of whom were trapped in basement apartments.