Torrential downpours from Tropical Storm Elsa caused mass flash flooding last night, leaving NYC subway stations and streets waist-deep in water.
While it’s still raining at the moment, it’s set to let up later this morning, opening up to a warm and dry day — until scattered showers & thunder storms hit later this afternoon into tonight.
In case you missed what happened last night, here are some of the craziest videos captured by New Yorkers of the state the storm left NYC in:
@whatisnewyorkofficial Flash flooding in NYC right now #whatisnewyork #fyp #foryoupage #iloveny #mta #nyc #flashflood #newyorkcity #newyork
Some subway system ya got there. This is the 157th St. 1 line right now. @NYCMayor @BilldeBlasio pic.twitter.com/xyfTAUPPNu
— Paullee (@PaulleeWR) July 8, 2021
Subway station in NYC completely flooded so people are wearing trash bags to pass the water-filled subways. 🤮pic.twitter.com/gSPSbcri1v
— Marie Oakes (@TheMarieOakes) July 8, 2021
And it wasn’t just the subways. Users posted these videos on Dyckman St. in Inwood:
https://www.tiktok.com/@curlychas_/video/6982642965613415686?lang=en&is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1
And even local highways left drivers stranded:
This is the Major Deegan Expressway in NYC after a vicious downpour a short while ago. pic.twitter.com/cJVYGsiTAo
— NYScanner (@nyscanner) July 8, 2021
I would avoid the FDR north unless you’re wearing a life jacket. pic.twitter.com/RRHRrVUsdN
— David Lennon (@DPLennon) July 8, 2021
Of course, all danger aside, you did catch some videos like this where you just had to crack up at an “only in NYC” moment:
When there’s a flood in NYC, you know the Bronx was prepared to bring the jet skis out 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/X8kgvh1G4b
— Truthfully ‘THE EXCEPTIONAL’ Ruthless (@FullyCalibrated) July 8, 2021
According to an interview with the New York Times, interim president of New York City Transit Sarah Feinberg said the subway flooding was caused by “a confluence of factors: underground drains being overwhelmed by the ferocity of the rain; vents and stairways serving as conduits for the same reason; and street-level flooding spilling over curbs and down into the subway.”
She said the subway “got pounded by rain in places that don’t typically flood,” and told New Yorkers to not try to get through places that seemed “impassable,” and instead allow the drains and MTA crews to clear out the water.
https://twitter.com/FeinbergSarah/status/1413263089487732737
Here are safety tips the NYC’s emergency management arm shared this morning as the rain continues:
☔️Stay indoors as much as possible. If you must go out, give yourself extra time to travel & exercise caution:
🔹Avoid walking & driving through flooded areas.
🔹Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters.
🔹Get free emergency alerts & updates from @NotifyNYC.— NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymgt) July 9, 2021
featured image source: Twitter / PaulleeWR