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Officials warn of flood risk as multiple rounds of storms descend on NYC
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Jul 21, 2026
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Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Jul 21, 2026
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City officials and meteorologists are warning New Yorkers to be on the lookout Tuesday as heavy rains and storms may lead to serious flooding.
According to the National Weather Service, “multiple rounds” of showers and thunderstorms are expected to roll through the area from morning until evening, dumping one to two inches of rain across the city in concentrated bursts. Totals of three to four inches are possible in some places, and the agency issued a flood watch for the five boroughs and surrounding areas until Tuesday night.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to exercise caution, especially during the late afternoon and evening hours when the weather is expected to be at its worst.
“Go inside if there’s thunder, heavy rain, or strong winds. If you live in a basement apartment, know your exits and be ready to move to a higher floor if heavy rain begins,” he wrote in a post on X.
Meteorologist Jim Connolly said it’s hard to tell exactly which places will experience the highest chances of major precipitation.
“It depends on where the storms develop, how intense they are, and of course, if we have storms develop over the same area, that's what really enhances the flood risk,” he said.
The strongest storms could also bring damaging wind gusts and small hail, Connolly said.
He urged New Yorkers to keep an eye on the forecast and look out for any additional alerts as the day goes on.
“Right now, I would say at least, it's going to be a little showery, a little stormy from time to time through Wednesday morning,” he said.
The National Weather Service and the city’s Emergency Management department also issued a warning about life-threatening rip currents at local beaches until Wednesday night. Beachgoers should not swim if red flags are up and no lifeguards are present.
Temperatures are expected to stay relatively cool, in the low 80s, until the rainy weather clears out early Wednesday.
New Yorkers can sign up for emergency alerts by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692.
Tagged
flood watch
new york city
weather advisory
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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