By The newspaper
29 Sep 2023, 00:31 AM EDT
High-impact flooding is on the horizon for the New York City area, as a coastal storm takes aim at the region, ready to unleash heavy rain that could result in severe flooding.
The National Weather Service has issued a level 3 of 4 “moderate” flash flood risk, covering millions of residents in the New York tri-state area.
The main concern is intense rainfall rates exceeding 1 inch per hour, which have the potential to cause flash flooding on roadways and even inside subway stations.
The Service mentioned that precipitation would begin Thursday night, with the most significant rain expected on Friday and into Friday night.
New York City Emergency Management issued a travel advisory effective from 4 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday, warning of possible “widespread travel impacts” during the morning commute.
Commissioner Zach Iscol emphasized preparation, especially given memories of the fatal basement flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida two years ago, CNN reported.
Widespread rainfall totals ranging from 2 to 4 inches are anticipated. However, certain areas could experience even higher amounts, potentially reaching 5 to 8 inches, especially if persistent, intense rain bands develop.
The most concerning rainfall is expected to be concentrated in a swath stretching from central New Jersey northward, through Manhattan and Long Island and into southern Connecticut and the Hudson Valley.
Even regions that receive as little as an inch of rain are at risk of flooding due to soil already saturated from recent heavy rains. Over the past seven days, a minimum of two inches of rain has drenched the Northeast, stretching from Virginia to Massachusetts, with some places receiving more than four inches.
Keep reading:
· Today’s weather in New York for this Thursday, September 28
· Weather forecast in Chicago, Illinois for this Wednesday, September 27