Torrential flooding in the Northeast left many cities facing underprepared infrastructure. While New Jersey declared a state of emergency, New York City grappled with high flood waters leaving residents stranded in the streets and on subways. The flash flooding on Monday night was New York’s second-wettest hour in history, followed by the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in 2021. Residents posted footage of floodwaters rushing through subway gates.
BREAKING: NYC subways are now flooding as mass amounts of rainfall hit the east coast.
New York City is washing away pic.twitter.com/gHe2cwZEHd
— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) July 15, 2025
Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia airports all faced major delays, while the 1, 2 and 3 subway trains were suspended through the city. All five boroughs in New York were put under a flash flood warning. Some areas were particularly impacted including Flatbush, Flushing, Mott Haven, East Tremont, Coney Island, Crown Heights, Midtown Manhattan, LaGuardia Airport, Huguenot, Harlem, and Todt Hill.
“Flooding can be deadly and often strikes with little or no warning. Streets, basements, and below-grade spaces can fill with water in minutes. If you live in a basement apartment or low-lying area, be ready to move to higher ground,” wrote the NYC Emergency Management in a post on X.
“Keep your Go Bag near the door and clear exit paths. Avoid flooded areas. Never walk or drive into water. Turn around, don’t drown,” they said. Rohit Aggarwala, the city’s Department of Environmental Protection commissioner, said the city’s sewage system is only made to handle 1.75 inches of water per hour. Monday’s storm made history with 2.07 inches of water in one hour.
“Imagine putting a two-liter bottle of water into a one-liter bottle. Some of it’s going to spill,” said Aggarwala in a news briefing on Tuesday.
