Connecticut, Long Island face renewed severe weather threat Monday following catastrophic flooding
The FOX Forecast Center said the region is edging closer to a more tranquil weather pattern, but first, it will have to dodge more rain to start the workweek. Storms will not be as abundant as they were over the weekend, but a cold front is expected to move through, bringing more thunderstorms.
More thunderstorms Monday could cause additional flash flooding in Northeast
Catastrophic flooding inundated the Northeast on Sunday. Flash flooding triggered mudslides and washed out roads across Southern Connecticut and Long Island. The region is now in the process of cleaning up as the busy morning commute is underway.
NEW YORK – A slow-moving system turned deadly after heavy rain inundated parts of the East Coast on Sunday as catastrophic flooding caused mudslides and washed out roads across southwestern Connecticut and Long Island, New York.
The region is now working on cleaning up as the flood threat will persist Monday, along with a minor severe weather threat that could bring damaging winds to the same areas.
Motorists can expect major delays on the roads as parts of the Long Island Expressway were shut down earlier as the workweek began, with crews rushing to clear the roads.
FLOODING UNLEASHES CHAOS IN CONNECTICUT AS RUSHING WATER DESTROYS ROADS, TRAPS TERRIFIED RESIDENTS
Watch: Cars attempt to drive through flooding in Connecticut
Video shared from Naugatuck, Connecticut, shows several vehicles attempting to drive through flooded streets on Sunday.
The FOX Forecast Center said the region is edging closer to a more tranquil weather pattern, but first, it will have to dodge more rain to start the workweek. Storms will not be as abundant as they were over the weekend, but a cold front is expected to move through, bringing more thunderstorms.
SOME EAST COAST BEACHES CLOSED TO SWIMMERS AS ERNESTO CHURNS OFFSHORE
(FOX Weather)
Some of these storms could cause additional flash flooding, especially where there was so much rain over the weekend. The FOX Forecast Center noted that less than a half-inch of rain in one hour is all that is needed for flash flood concerns to return.
In addition, some of the strongest storms could be severe, bringing a risk of damaging winds from the eastern Carolinas up into New England. This will be the last round of rain as high pressure builds in for the rest of the week.
Monday's severe weather potential will be less than Sunday, with a Level 1 out of 5 risk for the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.
(FOX Weather)
Storms turn deadly in Northeast as heavy rain pounds region
A man in Virginia was killed as severe weather moved through the region Sunday afternoon. The Henrico County Police Department confirmed to FOX Weather that the man was found dead in his vehicle after a large tree fell on top of it.
Heavy rain then began to saturate parts of eastern Long Island shortly after 10 p.m. with 1-2 inch per hour rainfall rates. These storms then regenerated in the same spots across north-central Suffolk County, the FOX Forecast Center said.
This prompted the second Flash Flood Emergency of the event, which was issued at 1:20 a.m. Monday. As much as 9.40 inches of rain fell in less than five hours.
Flooding in New Jersey caused Amtrak to delay trains between New York City and Philadelphia on Sunday evening. Two men were also rescued from a jetty along the Jersey Shore as dangerous rip currents impacted the area, the Barnegat Light Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 said on Facebook.
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The New York Police Department shared photos of water covering a road in Central Park on Sunday evening, and drivers were advised to avoid water-covered streets. Forecasters at the National Weather Service office in New York issued a Flash Flood Emergency for parts of Long Island due to intense rain and rapidly rising water.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE REVAMPS FLOOD ALERTS
Forecasters said between 4 and 6 inches of rain fell overnight and into Monday morning, and some areas were expected to receive an additional 2 to 4 inches before the rain moved out.
Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro said the light of day Monday is revealing a tremendous amount of damage from the storm's prolonged downpour after nearly 10 inches of rain fell in Stony Brook.
The flash floods resulted in mudslides and washed out several roads, causing considerable damage in Stony Brook, where floods were captured on video causing an entire street to collapse.
SMALL LONG ISLAND TOWN FACES LONG-TERM REBUILDING EFFORTS AFTER CATASTROPHIC FLOODING
Catastrophic flooding damage in Stony Brook, New York due to significant rainfall early Monday morning
Catastrophic damage is seen on Harbor Road in Stony Brook, New York, due to significant rainfall early Monday morning. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico captured flooding across the North Shore and extensive damage to roadways and homes.
The severe flooding prompted Stony Brook University to cancel student move-in plans scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
"We are still assessing the damage to campus caused by the overnight storms and flooding," Lawrence Zacarese, Vice President for Enterprise Risk Management and Chief Security Officer at Stony Brook University, said Monday in a campus emergency alert. "Please note, move-in plans for today, Monday, August 19, 2024 and tomorrow, Tuesday, August 20, 2024 have been canceled."
The fall semester is still scheduled to begin as planned next Monday, Aug. 26, according to the university.
Numerous water rescues, mudslides cause chaos in Connecticut
Widespread and catastrophic flooding has occurred in Fairfield and New Haven counties. Numerous water rescues, several mudslides and even a major gas leak were reported. Some of the hardest cities hit were Danbury, Redding, Southbury and Oxford.
Connecticut State Police Troop A confirmed to FOX Weather that two Oxford women were killed after they were swept away during the flooding. Their bodies were pulled from the Little River.
WATCH: CONNECTICUT FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE 19 PEOPLE, DOG FROM SWIFTLY RISING FLOODWATERS IN OXFORD
Connecticut firefighters rescue 19 people, 1 dog from rising floodwaters in Oxford
Firefighters safely rescued 19 people and a dog from raging floodwaters Sunday evening in southwestern Connecticut during a Flash Flood Emergency.
Radar estimated nearly 16 inches of rain fell with rainfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour.
A Flash Flood Emergency, the first in Connecticut since 2021, was issued for Fairfield and northwestern New Haven counties, the FOX Forecast Center said.
Additional rain is possible Monday for areas where flash flooding already occurred.