The eastern United States was hit by severe thunderstorms on Thursday (July 31), with New York City, Philadelphia, and parts of Maryland suffering major flooding. Roads turned into rivers, homes were flooded, and widespread power outages and disruptions in transportation occurred. Along the main highways from Philadelphia to New York, several drivers were trapped in the water, prompting emergency rescue operations, while multiple flights in the region were delayed due to the weather.
The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for millions of people, urging the public to stay indoors. New Jersey and New York City have declared a state of emergency. Flood watches and severe thunderstorm watches in other areas remain in effect until Friday morning (August 1), with rainfall amounts in some eastern regions expected to reach 4 to 6 inches.
The National Weather Service warned that flooding may occur in streams, streets, highways, underground tunnels, and poorly drained areas, with some areas also likely to experience strong winds and hail.
In New York City, flooding forced the temporary closure of several major roads, and multiple subway stations were closed or delayed during the evening rush hour due to flooding, significantly impacting commuters.
Videos captured by the public showed trains at Manhattan’s Central Station platforms being flooded, with water pouring into the carriages; in Brooklyn, a public bus traversed flooded streets, with the water inside the bus resembling a river.
A commuter train bound for Long Island was evacuated by firefighters as floodwaters rose. Other train services operating in Long Island and New Jersey were also either suspended or severely delayed due to the weather.
Amtrak announced on Thursday evening that train services between Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware, were temporarily suspended due to flooding of the tracks caused by the torrential rain. The company stated on social media that delays were expected even after the routes resume normal operations.
Traffic camera footage on a highway in Queens, New York City, and social media posts showed stranded drivers standing on top of their vehicles, with one truck nearly submerged in water. Police rescued two passengers from a flooded section of the road before the water receded.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged people to avoid traveling and advised residents living in basements to temporarily move to higher ground, as heavy rain was forecasted to continue until Friday afternoon. The city’s flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings were lifted on Thursday evening.
Airports in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia reported significant flight delays and cancellations on Thursday night.
New Jersey issued multiple tornado warnings, but there were no reports of actual tornado occurrences. As of Thursday night, over 14,000 households were without power.
In Pennsylvania, the National Weather Service issued warnings forecasting up to 3 inches of rainfall within an hour, leading to flooding in Reading, located approximately 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Online videos depicted cars parked along the roadside almost submerged in water, with water cascading down narrow city streets. Multiple road sections were impassable due to flooding, prompting Reading to close off certain streets and underground tunnels.
In Maryland, emergency rescue teams in the northeast Baltimore community rescued numerous individuals trapped in flooded vehicles.
Local officials proactively closed flood-prone sections of roads, preemptively shut down schools and libraries, and opened emergency shelters as more thunderstorms were expected to impact Maryland. Flood watches and warnings were issued throughout the state.