Severe weather struck the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with thunderstorms and heavy showers causing catastrophic flash floods in the tristate area. The intense rainfall transformed streets into waterways, submerged vehicles in rapidly rising waters, and necessitated numerous water rescues in Long Island and Connecticut.
Torrential downpours battered New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey throughout the night. Two particular areas—Suffolk County, New York, and parts of Fairfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut—witnessed unprecedented rainfall, categorized as a 1,000-year event.
In Connecticut, Oxford and Southbury recorded about 10 inches of rain in just 12 hours, while Suffolk County in New York saw around 7 inches fall in a mere three hours near Stony Brook.
Flash flood emergency and state of emergency declarations
A flash flood emergency was issued on Sunday evening for Suffolk County, concluding early Monday. The National Weather Service in New York observed that some locales received over 10 inches of rain from the storms spanning from Saturday night to Monday morning.
During Sunday night, Suffolk County was the scene of several water rescues in Nesconset, Ronkonkoma, Smithtown, and St. James, as reported by the weather office.
Edward Romaine, Suffolk County Executive, announced on Monday morning his intention to sign a state of emergency declaration after assessing the storm damage.
Historic storm impacts and government response in Connecticut
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont described the downpour as a “historic storm in some areas” of the state on Sunday. He noted that urban search-and-rescue teams were instrumental in evacuating at least 100 people.
On Monday, Governor Lamont declared a state of emergency due to “significant flooding” that inflicted “extensive structural damage to roadways.” He highlighted that over two dozen roads would remain closed for a prolonged period and advised against driving on flooded streets.
Tragic losses and rescues
The flooding claimed at least three lives. In Oxford, Connecticut, two women were “swept away from their vehicles” by the floodwaters, leading to their tragic deaths, as stated by Connecticut State Police during a Monday news conference.
The victims, identified as Ethelyn Joiner, 65, and Audrey Rostkowski, 71, both from Oxford, were reported missing around 5 p.m. Sunday. Their bodies were later recovered on Monday.
Additionally, in Henrico County, Virginia, a man perished on Sunday afternoon when a large tree fell on his car, according to the Henrico County Police Division.
Widespread disruptions and additional evacuations
In Danbury, Connecticut, footage captured cars submerged up to the knees in water. The city also faced evacuations due to a “mudslide situation” induced by the floods. Emergency personnel evacuated 100 residents from a senior housing complex and rescued at least 20 individuals from inundated vehicles, as per the Danbury Fire Department.
New York City also experienced disruptions, with videos on social media showing water cascading from the ceiling of Chelsea Market, a popular tourist spot.
Impact on transportation
The deluge affected regional transit as well. The Metro-North Railroad halted the Waterbury Branch service in both directions early Monday due to a mudslide near Seymour. Amtrak also paused rail traffic between New York and Philadelphia on Sunday night because of the flooding.
Air travel was not spared, with ground stops implemented at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, and departures halted at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey due to the Sunday night thunderstorms.
The extreme rainfall in the Northeast, while not related to Hurricane Ernesto, was linked to a slow-moving summer cold front that generated the storms.
Additional rain and thunderstorms were forecast for Monday afternoon and evening across the Northeast and New England, with potential flooding expected from Connecticut to Vermont and New Hampshire. Cities like New Haven, Hartford, Springfield, Montpelier, and Burlington could see an additional 1 to 4 inches of rain.
