Severe thunderstorms and rainfall in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast triggered deadly flash floods in the tri-state region, with roads turning into rivers, cars sinking in rapidly rising waters and water rescues being conducted on Long Island and Connecticut.
New York, Connecticut and New Jersey were hit by heavy rains overnight. Two locations – parts of Fairfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut and Suffolk County, New York – experienced historic rainfall that reached the threshold of a 1,000-year rain event.
In the Oxford and Southbury, Connecticut area, about 10 inches of rain fell in 12 hours, while in Suffolk County, New York, an estimated 7 inches of rain fell in three hours near Stony Brook.
On Long Island, a flash flood emergency was declared for Suffolk County on Sunday night, but was lifted early Monday. The National Weather Service in New York reported that some areas locally recorded more than 10 inches of rainfall during the storms Saturday night into Monday morning.
Several water rescues took place in parts of Nesconset, Ronkonkoma, Smithtown and St. James in Suffolk County on Sunday evening, the weather bureau said.
Suffolk County Executive Edward Romaine said Monday morning that he would sign an order declaring a state of emergency after assessing the storm damage.
Meanwhile, Governor Ned Lamont called Sunday’s deluge in Connecticut “a historic storm in some areas of the state” and noted that search and rescue teams in towns had helped evacuate at least 100 people.
On Monday, he declared a state of emergency because “significant flooding” had “caused significant damage to roads.” He said more than two dozen roads would be closed for an extended period and urged residents to avoid driving through flooded roads.
At least three people died in the devastating storms.
Two women died after being “washed away from their vehicles” by floodwaters in Oxford, Connecticut, on Sunday, Connecticut State Police said at a press conference Monday morning.
State police responded to Route 67 in Oxford around 5 p.m. Sunday for a report of two people missing during severe flooding. The bodies of 65-year-old Ethelyn Joiner and 71-year-old Audrey Rostkowski, both of Oxford, were recovered Monday, police said in a news release.
A man was found dead in Henrico County, Virginia, on Sunday afternoon after a large tree fell on his vehicle, Henrico County police said.
In Danbury, Connecticut, a video showed cars submerged in knee-deep water.
Several buildings in Danbury were evacuated Sunday after city officials said a “landslide situation” was triggered by flooding. Emergency workers also evacuated 100 people from a senior living complex and fire officials said at least 20 people were rescued from flooded cars, the Danbury Fire Department said.
In New York City, a video on social media showed water pouring from the ceiling of Chelsea Market, a popular tourist destination.
The flooding also affected public transportation. Metro-North Railroad suspended Waterbury Branch service in both directions early Monday because of a landslide near Seymour as a result of Sunday’s rains. Amtrak also temporarily suspended train service between New York and Philadelphia on Sunday evening due to flooding.
Due to thunderstorms on Sunday evening, flight bans were imposed at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, and all departures were canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
The intense rain in the Northeast is not related to Hurricane Ernesto, but to a slow-moving summer cold front that produces thunderstorms.
More rain is on the way, with more thunderstorms forecast for Monday afternoon and evening in the Northeast and New England.
Flooding rainfall is most likely from Connecticut northward into Vermont and New Hampshire, where additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches are possible. Cities likely to see flooding include New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut; Springfield, Massachusetts; Montpelier and Burlington, Vermont.
