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Record-breaking rain battered the NYC area Friday. Let us count the ways.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Sep 30, 2023
Modified Sep 30, 2023
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By
Catalina Gonella
Published Sep 30, 2023
Modified Sep 30, 2023
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Record-breaking rain inundated the New York City metro area Friday, with more than half a foot falling in some areas. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams both declared a state of emergency as flash flooding inundated roads, disrupted subway and train service, and even forced a terminal at LaGuardia Airport to close.
Here’s what we know so far about the overall effects of Friday’s rainfall.
It was historic.
More than 6 inches of rain had fallen across many parts of the city as of 6 p.m. Friday, with Brooklyn and Queens getting the worst of it.
The area around JFK Airport was the hardest hit, getting more than 8 inches of rain, and making it the wettest September day on record since 1948, when recordkeeping for that location’s weather conditions began, according to the National Weather Service.
Midtown Manhattan was hit with more than 6 inches of rain by Friday evening, while Staten Island had around 3 inches. Parts of Brooklyn saw more than 7 inches according to figures provided by the National Weather Service.
We thought we were done with Ophelia. Not so much.
Meteorologists said the city’s newest weather disaster had more in common with the remnants of Hurricane Ida than many may realize when it comes to how the deluge was born. Similar to Ida, the forecast had called for this rainfall a few days in advance, and the heaviest predictions locked into place by Thursday night.
Prevailing winds in the New York City area generally blow from west to east, pushing storms up the coast and out to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. But Ophelia’s leftovers parked just offshore after its clouds dissipated Tuesday night.
Late Thursday, this moist air — aching to create more rain — pushed back toward the city where it encountered a separate mass of colder air coming from the West. This cold air acted like a wedge, vaulting Ophelia’s moist leftovers higher into the sky, where they would be more likely to form rain clouds and trigger a cascading downpour. The situation created what's known as an inverted trough, and this atmospheric pattern was similar to what happened when the remnants of Hurricane Ida devastated the tristate area in September 2021, as Gothamist reported at the time.
What's next for the city?
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection has issued an advisory for most of the metropolitan area’s waterways due to the potential for sewage runoff. Public documents state that NYC’s sewer system can only handle about 1.75 inches of rain an hour. Weather stations in Central Park and parts of Queens recorded 2 inches of hourly rainfall around 10 a.m Friday morning, while Brooklyn’s Park Slope area experienced closer to 3 inches.
During heavy rainfall, flooding can push large amounts of water and contaminants into waterways. Flooding can also overwhelm sewers and wastewater treatment facilities. The resulting overflow can cause untreated polluted water to flow directly into rivers and creeks.
Roads, trains, and planes were swamped.
Residents across the area experienced hellish commutes despite transportation authorities’ efforts to avoid service interruptions.
Many subway lines were taken out of service or delayed due to flooding throughout the system, even as MTA Chair Janno Lieber said at a press conference that “it could’ve been worse.”
Several Metro-North lines were also suspended for hours, resuming service shortly after 6 p.m. As of Saturday morning most lines appeared to be operating on normal weekend schedules, with delays reported on the 6 and G lines. Check the MTA site for up-to-date information.
Meanwhile, PATH trains ran normally.
Roads throughout the city shut down as some New Yorkers were stranded in their cars — though many roads gradually reopened later in the day. Check the city's emergency notifications for the latest updates.
Flooding forced LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal A to shutter from around 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the weather continued causing flight disruptions into the evening. Passengers were advised to expect delays and to check their flight information with the airline before heading to the airport.
Students struggled to get to and from school.
Even though schools opened largely as normal, many students never made it to class, getting stuck on their way in. The New York City Department of Education reported an attendance rate of 77% — well below normal.
Some students who made it in then had to figure out how they would get home through the floodwaters, and many left school early.
The city’s education department insisted schools were proceeding with orderly dismissals, but parents and students described having to rent cars, ride packed buses, and coordinate group pickups through informal WhatsApp groups.
Alternate side parking went on pause.
Alternate side parking was suspended just before 11 a.m. and was to remain suspended through Saturday. Parking meters are still in effect.
A migrant tent facility was drenched.
Rainwater seeped into the massive Randall’s Island tent facility for migrants through the floors and roof, according to videos obtained by Gothamist and accounts from migrants and advocates.
Water droplets blanketed plastic-covered cots and migrants inside the emergency shelter covered up with plastic sheeting, using plastic bags to protect their belongings.
Mayor Adams drew criticism — a lot of it
As routine activities ground to a halt, critics slammed Mayor Eric Adams over his handling of the deluge — the second time this year he was dinged for his response to a climate emergency.
While weather experts had on Thursday evening warned of intense rainfall, Adams waited until late morning Friday to hold a public briefing, before making a slew of media appearances later in the afternoon. Elected officials — including Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Sen. Jessica Ramos and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams — accused the mayor of a flatfooted response.
What’s the weather like in the coming days?
The heaviest rain for the city is likely over, according to the National Weather Service. Moderate rain is forecast for Saturday, but it won’t be anywhere near the levels seen on Friday.
On Sunday and Monday the city is expected to get a break from the wet weather with dry and sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70s.
Nsikan Akpan, Rosemary Misdary, Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky, Michelle Bocanegra, Bahar Ostadan and Elizabeth Kim contributed reporting.
This story has been updated with additional information.
Tagged
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weather
Catalina Gonella
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