On Monday night, New Jersey and New York City faced a sudden onslaught of monsoon-like rains which resulted in severe flash flooding, tragically resulting in the loss of two lives. Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey declared a state of emergency in response to the chaos. On Tuesday, the dangers were evident as emergency responders conducted several rescues, particularly in Plainfield, New Jersey, where two individuals perished when their vehicle was overtaken by floodwaters.
The National Weather Service (NWS) noted that further storms were anticipated on Tuesday, raising concerns of additional flooding not only in the northeastern United States but also extending to Florida and parts of the Midwest. As reports came in early Tuesday, it was evident that many main roads in New Jersey were rendered impassable, causing significant travel disruptions including delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport.
The intensity of the storm was highlighted by the fact that parts of New Jersey received over six inches of rain in a matter of hours. In one harrowing rescue situation in Scotch Plains, responders utilized ropes to rescue a man trapped in his car amid rising floodwaters, according to information from CBS News.
Flooding concerns weren't limited to New Jersey alone. New York City experienced unprecedented rainfall, recording its second-highest hourly rate in over eight decades, with two inches of rain falling in just thirty minutes. The deluge infiltrated subway stations, where passengers struggled to stay dry by kneeling on their seats as water rushed in.
The flooding situation extended to parts of Virginia, where cities like Colonial Heights and Petersburg were identified as being at risk of "catastrophic" damage due to ongoing flood threats, according to NWS warnings. Fortunately, meteorological forecasts indicated that the heaviest rainfall was gradually shifting eastward and losing strength, though residents were cautioned to adhere to road closure announcements.
This alarming weather event comes on the heels of a separate catastrophe in Texas, where extreme flash floods recently claimed over 130 lives and left many still unaccounted for. Authorities continue to remain vigilant in the face of potentially life-threatening conditions.
