Heavy rain triggers flash floods and travel chaos on US East Coast

In New York, floodwaters swept through roads and train stations during the evening rush, with commuters wading through submerged platforms at Grand Central Terminal.

Videos shared online showed water pouring into city buses and cascading over trains.

Firefighters evacuated a Long Island-bound train, and services across Long Island and New Jersey were severely disrupted. Amtrak suspended routes between Philadelphia and Wilmington due to high water over the tracks.

States of emergency were declared in New York City and New Jersey.

Residents in New York City and New Jersey have been advised to stay vigilant and monitor official updates closely as emergency declarations have been issued in the Northeast. This is because 43 million people in both NYC and NJ face a flash flood warning. The authorities have also advised people to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary due to possible street, basement and transit system flooding. Residents living in basement apartments have been advised to relocate to higher ground for safety.

Severe weather has caused widespread travel disruption, with hundreds of flights in New York cancelled or delayed. Amid the chaos, dramatic videos showing floodwaters engulfing parts of New York City and New Jersey have gone viral on social media.

ALSO READ New York flash floods: Flights grounded as alarming videos of dramatic rescue pour amid New Jersey emergency

Dramatic visuals of flash floods

One social media user shared videos showing flooded streets and subways, with vehicles struggling to navigate through the water. In the subway, people can be seen holding railings as they carefully make their way, trying to avoid the waterlogged floor. Floodwaters are visibly pooling throughout the station.

🚨 New York Governor Issues State of Emergency for NYC as Floodwaters Overwhelm City.

Subways inundated. Streets transformed into rivers. pic.twitter.com/vNuoOpl4o3 — Digital Gal (@DigitalGal_X) July 31, 2025

Yet another video from the subway shows water pouring through the walls as commuters carefully exit the Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Story here 👉️ https://t.co/3HL2il1I3x | Floodwater seeped through the walls of the 7th Avenue station in Park Slope on Thursday as storms brought heavy rain and flooding to New York City. pic.twitter.com/nXShYnP0Vb — Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) July 31, 2025

“Oh my God. I don’t know if I’ll get through this,” a woman can be heard saying from behind the wheel as she drives through the floodwaters.

🚨TRAVEL ADVISORY🚨issued by New York City emergency officials

-Flash flood warnings issued in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island

-Subways- “only extremely limited” service available -MTA

-LaGuardia Airport -flooding cut off access to Terminal A pic.twitter.com/57VNAH8dsj — Biasedly Unbiased (@DiRealDan) September 29, 2023

One gut-wrenching video, made by a man who somehow made it through the waters, shows cars at a dealership nearly submerged in floodwaters, while people appear trapped as the rising water reaches up to their windshields.

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“People are trapped… They’re not going anywhere… I feel bad for these people. I barely made it. My entrance is done,” said one person on social media.

Floodwaters swamped a car dealership lot and left people stranded in New Jersey as intense storms triggered flash flooding and led to a state of emergency. pic.twitter.com/E3BsaGi8RM — AccuWeather (@accuweather) July 15, 2025

A video shared by a New Jersey resident shows buses and an ambulance stuck in water. He then pans the camera to show a dramatic rescue of a man. He was taken out of his car and was then dragged by the rescuers to the other end using a rope.

“This isn’t weather. It’s weather warfare,” said the social media user who posted the video, before asking, “How is this still normal?”

🚨 LIVE WATER RESCUE AS AMERICA FLOODS – HOW IS THIS STILL “NORMAL”?

Scotch Plains, New Jersey: crews caught a dramatic rescue as flash floods slam the Tri-State. Warnings still active.

This isn’t weather. It’s weather warfare.pic.twitter.com/UT8OwVYTud — HustleBitch (@HustleBitch_) July 15, 2025

Yet another video shows water filling buses as they make their way through the water. It also shows the condition of different areas as flash floods hit them.

🚨 BREAKING: NYC CITY BUS COMPLETELY FLOODED – PASSENGERS IN SHOCK FILMING AS WATER GUSHES DOWN THE AISLE

Flash floods just turned public transit into a boat ride.

And they still want you to believe this is normal weather?

📹- _queenie99 (TT) pic.twitter.com/DMzSQZ0C3W — HustleBitch (@HustleBitch_) July 31, 2025

Passengers on a public bus lifted up their feet and watched out the windows as flash floods raged in New Jersey. At least two people died in floods that swept through the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on July 14. pic.twitter.com/3RIpRFxvbD — USA TODAY (@USATODAY) July 16, 2025

National Weather Service updates

The National Weather Service (NWS) has been issuing continuous flash flood warnings across different areas, and has also been advising people to “move immediately to higher ground” and to “avoid walking or driving through flood waters”. It has also been giving severe thunderstorm warnings. Several are feared dead.

“Scattered thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are expected to bring the potential for flooding across the Carolinas, Southern Plains, and the front-range of the Rockies on Friday. Fire weather concerns will persist in the northwestern Great Basin on Friday due to isolated dry thunderstorms. Air quality will continue to be impacted through Saturday in the Midwest due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires,” NWS wrote four hours back on its social media handle.

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.

New York officials declared a state of emergency on Thursday afternoon as flash flooding hit railways and roads, causing significant delays and closures across the tristate area ahead of peak travel time.

The flooding has caused significant delays and service changes across the A, B, C, D, E, and F lines, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Meanwhile, New Jersey Transit suspended service in both directions along the Gladstone Branch between Gladstone and Bernardsville.

Flooding on the roads has also blocked the lanes at the Throgs Neck Bridge in Queens, causing untold delays in road traffic.

Kathy Hochul Declares State of Emergency in New York

New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a State of Emergency just ahead of heavy flash floods that swept through the area.

“Due to heavy rain and potential flooding, New York City and the surrounding counties are under a State of Emergency,” Hochul wrote in a post on X. “Be alert. Be safe. Be smart. We’ll get through this.”

New York City issued its own warnings shortly before 5 p.m. ET: In a video posted to X, Mayor Eric Adams announced a travel advisory and flood watch in effect until Friday morning, urging residents to “stay where you are if you can.”

“Don’t drive. Roadways are flooding, and crews are responding,” Adams wrote. “If you live in a basement apartment, and haven’t yet moved to higher ground, move now.”

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Thursday afternoon announced a Flash Flood Watch for his state, warning residents to “avoid all unnecessary travel this evening,” adding that “most flood-related fatalities occur in vehicles.”

New Jersey Acting Governor Tahesha Way had earlier in the day declared a State of Emergency that took effect at 2 p.m. ET, leading to the early closure of all state offices to avoid unnecessary travel. The Flash Flood Warning will remain in effect until Friday morning.

“Beginning this afternoon, we are expecting severe thunderstorms to bring heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts with the potential for flash flooding across the state,” Way said. “I urge all New Jerseyans to remain alert, follow all safety protocols, and monitor the proper channels for the duration of these storms. Residents should remain off the roads and indoors unless absolutely necessary.”

What is a State of Emergency?

A state can issue a State of Emergency in the event of a disaster or severe conditions in order to empower officials to provide supplemental aid to local agencies and communities in need. Primarily, it cuts through a lot of red tape that might otherwise slow the progress of providing that aid

The declaration also enables officials to provide resources to help rescue or evacuate residents or provide essential resources such as food or fuel to affected areas.

In some cases, the state can also be in position to seek federal assistance depending on the scope of the event and the demands on overall resources, according to the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management.

Clearview Expressway, Cross Island Parkway Flooding: What We Know

Heavy flooding on parkways led to emergency responders rescuing drivers from near-fatalities: Authorities told local outlet QNS that FDNY and NYPD rescued three vehicles that were submerged on the Clearview Expressways at around 2:45 p.m. ET.

Video posted by the Citizen App showed a sixteen-wheeler submerged right up to the driver’s cabin and reported that some areas along the roadway had as much as seven feet of water.

Uber, Lyft Costs Spike During Storms

One of the more surprising effects of the flash flooding saw rideshare drivers jacking prices up to deal with the dangerous conditions.

In one case, a would-be rider who estimates the typical cost for a 3.3-mile journey from southern Manhattan to Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, at around $30, told Newsweek that Lyft quoted them more than $230 for the same ride at around 3.30 p.m. on Thursday.

Uber came in cheaper than Lyft but still more than four times the typical price at around $140.

This is a breaking news story. Updates will follow.

Update 7/31/25, 6:57 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 7/31/25, 5:57 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Heavy Rains Slam Northeast, Trigger Travel Chaos, Floods \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Severe thunderstorms drenched the East Coast Thursday, causing floods and widespread travel delays. Major highways closed, rail services were suspended, and thousands lost power across multiple states. Officials declared emergencies and urged residents to stay indoors amid flash flood warnings.

Quick Looks

Storms dumped 2–6 inches of rain across Northeast

Flash flooding hit New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland

New York’s Clearview Expressway closed in both directions

LIRR suspended major rail line during rush hour in Queens

Flight delays and cancellations reported at NYC, NJ, and Philadelphia airports

Tornado warnings in New Jersey issued, but no touchdowns confirmed

Over 6,000 power outages reported across the region

Emergency declarations issued for NYC and New Jersey

Water rescues reported north of Baltimore, MD

Rainfall reached 3 inches per hour in some areas

Deep Look

A powerful line of severe thunderstorms and torrential rainfall battered the East Coast on Thursday, causing widespread flooding, travel chaos, and emergency declarations from Philadelphia to New York City. The storm system, described by forecasters as a “high-impact event,” delivered rainfall at dangerous rates of up to 3 inches per hour, overwhelming roads, halting rail systems, and triggering flash flood warnings across multiple states.

In New York, the Clearview Expressway, a vital artery through Queens, was shut down in both directions due to impassable floodwaters. Meanwhile, the Long Island Rail Road suspended service on one of its busiest commuter lines during the evening rush hour, leaving thousands scrambling for alternate ways home. City officials warned that subway stations and basements were at risk, and urged New Yorkers to remain indoors through Friday.

Throughout the day, social media lit up with images and videos of submerged cars, flooded underpasses, and first responders rescuing stranded motorists. In Reading, Pennsylvania, dramatic footage showed water gushing down city streets and reaching halfway up parked vehicles, making commercial areas nearly impossible to traverse.

In northern Maryland, emergency responders carried out multiple water rescues as flash floods swamped neighborhoods north of Baltimore. The National Weather Service issued early afternoon flood warnings for Berks, Lancaster, and York counties in Pennsylvania, as well as Baltimore and Harford counties in Maryland, citing concerns for rising streams, poor drainage, and water pooling in low-lying areas.

By evening, flash flood warnings were expanded to include much of New York City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. State leaders responded quickly: New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy each declared states of emergency. State workers were dismissed early in both states as officials prepared emergency response teams for what forecasters warned could be a long night of severe weather.

Air traffic was no better. Major airports across the region—JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and Philadelphia International—reported dozens of delays and cancellations. Travelers experienced cascading disruptions as flights were rerouted or grounded entirely due to the intensity of the storms and low visibility conditions.

Forecasters warned that the strongest storms were expected late Thursday into early Friday, with the potential for 2 inches of rain per hour, frequent lightning, and wind gusts reaching 60 mph (97 kph). In eastern Pennsylvania, a severe thunderstorm warning was posted between Allentown and Reading, with reports of penny-sized hail and possible tree damage.

New York City officials issued a rare flooding advisory asking residents—especially those living in basement apartments—to move to higher floors and avoid unnecessary travel from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon. The city’s Office of Emergency Management activated its flash flood alert protocols, warning of inundation in subway stations, underpasses, and residential neighborhoods.

In New Jersey, tornado warnings were briefly issued in parts of the state, though no confirmed touchdowns were reported. The rapid weather changes kept emergency responders on high alert, as wind damage and potential funnel cloud sightings were evaluated in real time.

By Thursday evening, over 6,000 utility customers across the region were without power, adding to the disruption caused by fallen trees, flooded substations, and lightning strikes.

Officials in Nassau County, New York, took the unusual step of issuing a direct appeal to residents to shelter in place. “Stay home this evening unless it’s absolutely necessary for you to go out,” said County Executive Bruce Blakeman, emphasizing the risk of driving into floodwaters or being caught in the worst of the storm’s fury.

Across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, flood watches and severe weather warnings remain in effect into Friday, with some areas forecast to receive up to 6 inches of rain. The National Weather Service said that the Washington–Philadelphia–New York City corridor would remain a high-risk zone for both flash flooding and isolated severe thunderstorms.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said on social media that state emergency agencies were on standby and preparing potential recovery operations, including coordination with local governments in flood-prone areas.

The latest round of intense East Coast weather underscores a growing trend: increased storm intensity, rapid rainfall, and urban flooding, straining infrastructure and testing emergency preparedness across some of the country’s most densely populated areas.

As Friday approaches, officials across the region are asking one thing of residents: stay indoors, stay informed, and don’t underestimate this storm.

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