Deadly flash flooding swamps Northeast again, prompting water rescues and canceling hundreds of flights

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5 dead, 2 children missing after Pennsylvania flash flooding as rescue operations continue, officials say

At least five people were killed Saturday and two children have been reported missing after flash flooding in eastern Pennsylvania. Nearly 7 inches of rain fell in about 45 minutes near Washington Crossing and the surrounding area of Bucks County, which resulted in rapid flooding and extensive damage.

NEW YORK – Deadly flash flooding swamped the Northeast again over the weekend as the heaviest rainfall since last week's deadly flooding soaked areas from the mid-Atlantic to New England.

This latest flooding event turned deadly after at least five people were killed Saturday in eastern Pennsylvania when officials said upwards of 7 inches of rain fell in about 45 minutes, sweeping away nearly a dozen vehicles that were already on the road when the flash flooding began in eastern Bucks County.

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The flooding also turned deadly in North Carolina over the weekend. The Alexander County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post that a woman was killed and another person was rescued when their vehicle was overcome by high water. The sheriff's office said one victim was rescued after clinging to a tree in the rising water. That victim then told emergency crews that the second victim had jumped from the vehicle into the water.

The sheriff's office said that the victim, who was identified as Lisa Michelle Riahi, 49, of Hickory, North Carolina, was found dead about 2 miles from where the incident began.

A car is seen approaching a flooded roadway in Torrington, Connecticut, on Sunday, July 16, 2023.

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On Sunday, the National Weather Service issued dozens of Flash Flood Warnings and even a few Tornado Warnings as nearly 60 million residents from Virginia to Maine faced the risk of flooding rainfall and severe weather.

The showers and storms caused hundreds of flights to be canceled or delayed across the Northeast on Sunday, and a ripple effect was expected to cause flight disruptions to linger into Monday.

Ground stops were implemented Sunday afternoon at Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in the New York City tri-state area. According to FlightAware, inbound flights to JFK Airport were delayed up to 4 hours at their origin.

Newark and JFK airports led the U.S. in total flight cancellations and delays. In total, 367 flights departing from or traveling to Newark were canceled on Sunday, and 477 more were delayed, according to FlightAware. JFK Airport reported 342 departing and arriving flights were canceled on Sunday, and 569 more were delayed.

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On Sunday morning, severe thunderstorms caused damage in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.

Residents in the area reported multiple trees were down, and utility poles were snapped during the storms.

Tree damage is seen following a severe thunderstorm in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, on Sunday, July 16, 2023.

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Farther north, the NWS in Boston confirmed an EF-0 tornado occurred late Sunday morning in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, where some minor damage was reported.

Several eyewitnesses in the area also spotted the brief tornado, which had estimated peak winds of 80 mph and was on the ground for 2 miles. 

In addition to the flight disruptions and severe weather, Flood Watches had been issued for more than 59 million residents from Virginia northward through the entire state of Maine.

The Flood Watches included New York's lower Hudson Valley and much of Vermont, which had already received 6 to 10 inches of rain last week when Vermont saw rivers and creeks swell to levels not seen since the 1920s.

Major cities along Interstate 95 were also included in the Flood Watch, including Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston.

Numerous roads were flooded Sunday morning in Northampton County in eastern Pennsylvania and adjacent Warren County in northwestern New Jersey, where there were reports of water rescues and vehicles stuck in floodwaters. 

Flooded roads were also reported Sunday morning in parts of western Connecticut, including Bethel and Torrington.

Islip, New York, on Long Island, recorded 3.04 inches of rain in one hour between 8 and 9 a.m. EDT Sunday morning.

A road in New Hampshire was even seen buckling and splitting due to the torrential rain.

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Floodwater forces road to buckle in New Hampshire

A road in Hillsboro, New Hampshire, collapsed on Sunday amid torrential rain and flood warnings within the state. (Courtesy: Isaac Bailey via Storyful)

And if that video wasn't proof enough that it's not safe to drive on New Hampshire roads, the Crayon 301 NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was postponed to Monday due to the threat of flooding.

DRONE VIDEO SHOWS CATASTROPHIC FLOODING SUBMERGING DOWNTOWN MONTPELIER, VERMONT

Flood disaster recovery still ongoing

Communities around Montpelier, Vermont, and New York’s lower Hudson Valley continued to clean up following more than a half-foot of rain last week.

At least two people were killed, which left parts of the region reeling after its worst flooding disaster since 1927.

River levels had receded, which allowed most communities to make it through the recent round of wet weather without catastrophic impacts.

Residents in Vermont told FOX Weather they were paying close attention to the forecast and would be ready to take action if additional flooding occurred in the state.