The strong thunderstorms that crossed New York in the late afternoon of yesterday, Thursday, August 20, caused flooding at various points of the city, with consequences especially on road and public transport.
The biggest problems occurred during the evening peak hour. Shortly after 19, Notify NYC reported local flooding in the city and invited residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
In Queens the water forced the closure in both directions of two of the main road arteries of the city. At 19:19, all of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway lanes were closed at Queens Boulevard; a few minutes later it was reached on Long Island Expressway, blocked in both directions at Francis Lewis Boulevard.
Problems have also been reported on Jackie Robinson Parkway, where floods have caused severe slowdowns in the east.
The rain also had consequences on the subway. Around 19:15 the city reported delays and changes to service on several MTA lines due to flooding, inviting passengers to consider alternative routes.
Bad weather was expected. Already on Wednesday, NYC Emergency Management had activated the Flash Flood Emergency Plan, predicting the most intense phase of the disturbance between 17 and 20. During Thursday the level of risk for excessive rains had been raised in Moderate, level 3 out of 4.
At 17:54, the National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning throughout New York City, indicating the possibility of precipitation between half an inch and a half in a short time.
The most serious effects of the disturbance occurred outside the city. In Long Island, a possible tornado damaged facilities at Atlantic Beach, Nassau County, while in nearby New Jersey tens of people were rescued after being stuck in water-mounted cars. No serious casualties or injuries have been reported.
In New York, however, the passage of the thunderstorm has left especially flooded roads and inconvenience to circulation, concentrated in the hours of the evening return.
L’articolo Maltempo in New York, flooded roads and closed highways in Queens proviene da IlNewyorkese.
