See it: Relentless rain in New York City pours into subways, apartments
Torrential conditions led New York City Mayor Eric Adams to declare a state of emergency for the city, as flooded streets and subways created chaos in all five boroughs.
Intense rain rates flood NYC subways, roads
Life-threatening flash flooding is pummeling the New York City area Friday as remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia lash the already heavily saturated region with several inches of rain in mere hours.
NEW YORK CITY – Photos and videos showed how relentless rain has been taking a bite out of the Big Apple on Friday.
Torrential conditions led New York City Mayor Eric Adams to declare a state of emergency for the city, as flooded streets and subways created chaos in all five boroughs. According to the FOX Forecast Center, more than 6 inches of rain had fallen in Brooklyn as of Friday afternoon.
In the video below, water gushes through the ceiling of the Grand Army Plaza station in Brooklyn and showers the subway tracks with floodwater.
Flooding at the Grand Army Plaza station in New York City. Sept. 29, 2023.
(@andref1989 / X / FOX Weather)
Water also infiltrated an apartment complex in the Washington Heights neighborhood in Manhattan. The footage below shows a resident opening their front door to see water cascading down a metal stairwell, as a person off-screen fruitlessly pushes the floodwater away from their residence with an orange broom.
Floodwater pours down a staircase inside apartment building in Washington Heights, NY
Rainwater flooded an apartment building in the Washington Heights neighborhood as torrential downpours caused flash flooding across New York City on Friday morning.
The city was soaked as many residents tried to make their commute to work. One teacher found himself in the middle of a street that turned into a river as he attempted to make his way to school.
"Major flooding turned me around on the morning commute to work," said Joseph Laurro. "Soaked even in rain boots. Ain’t no way! Stay safe people."
He captured a few images of his commute, showing fellow pedestrians wading through the floodwater.
Cortelyou Rd. in Brooklyn. Sept. 29, 2023.
(Joseph Laurro / WEATHER TRAKER /TMX / FOX Weather)
Another Brooklyn resident filmed the flooded streets of the borough. Her video below shows pedestrians walking through knee-deep or even thigh-deep water.
"Should have swam to work today," said Marina in her Tiktok post.
Flooding in Brooklyn. Sept. 29, 2023.
(@mssergeyevna / TikTok / FOX Weather)
In one intersection in Brooklyn, a whirlpool formed. Footage taken at the intersection shows floodwater flowing in a counterclockwise direction down the hole like toilet water being flushed down the drain.
Vehicles, from small cars to large delivery trucks, could be seen trying to navigate the flooded streets.
Watch: Whirlpool forms on Brooklyn's 4th Avenue amid flash flooding
Video by Phuong Van Huynh shows a whirlpool forming above a storm drain on Brooklyn’s 4th Avenue, as floodwater engulfed cars and brought traffic to a crawl.
HOW FLOODWATER CAN MAKE YOU VERY SICK
Trash ended up floating in the floodwaters of Brooklyn, caught in the wake of vehicles driving through the water.
"It’s crazy out here," said the person who captured the images below. "Everyone stay home and be safe."
Trash floats in floodwater in Brooklyn. Sept. 29, 2023.
(@shaonedon / X / FOX Weather)
As night fell, some of the floodwater began to recede, leaving behind muck in the streets.
The video below showed city officials blocking off a muddy area as pedestrians tried to walk around it.
Trail of mud in Manhattan.
(Aishah French / FOX Weather)