Severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in NYC and NJ lead to two fatalities.

Torrential rainfall has struck New York City and New Jersey, resulting in significant flooding that has claimed the lives of two individuals. This severe weather, characterized by excessive water accumulation, has inundated entire neighborhoods, disrupted the city’s subway system, and left thousands of residents without power across the tri-state area.

The fatalities occurred in Plainfield, New Jersey, on Monday evening when rising floodwaters swept a vehicle into the Cedar Brook stream during the height of the storm, approximately at 8 p.m. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy confirmed that authorities pronounced both occupants of the vehicle deceased at the scene. In response to the crisis, Governor Murphy declared a state of emergency to mobilize resources for those affected by the devastating weather conditions. This incident marks the third and fourth storm-related fatalities reported in the city this month.

Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp expressed his community’s sorrow over the tragic loss, highlighting the profound impact on the residents. The mayor emphasized a commitment to enhancing emergency response systems to mitigate future risks.

Additionally, in nearby North Plainfield, emergency responders reported a house explosion shortly after its occupants evacuated due to rising floodwaters. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries from this incident.

The ongoing storm activity is attributed to a surge of tropical moisture moving up the East Coast, linked to a developing tropical storm off the coast of Florida. These conditions unleashed a series of slow-moving thunderstorms, resulting in an astounding six inches of rain falling on parts of New Jersey in a matter of hours. This deluge prompted numerous water rescues across the region.

As of Tuesday, approximately 2,900 homes and businesses remained without power following the storm’s impact. Governor Murphy noted the intensity of the rainfall, which fell in two distinct waves, severely impacting local communities. Reports indicate that Central Park recorded 2.64 inches of rain on Monday, surpassing the previous record for that date.

In New York City, the weather led to the closure of several subway lines, with visuals emerging on social media of water cascading down station stairs and pooling inside train cars. Janno Lieber, the chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, stated that the city’s sewer infrastructure was overwhelmed, causing backups that flooded subway tunnels and stations.

Flight disruptions were also reported, with an estimated 159 cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport, impacting the travel plans of numerous passengers. While flood warnings have mostly been rescinded, forecasters continue to alert residents from Washington, D.C. to the Carolinas of possible flooding.

In the aftermath of this unprecedented weather event, local governments and transit authorities are assessing the damage and formulating strategies to enhance flood preparedness and response capabilities.