Severe storms slammed the New York tri-state area on Thursday, triggering flash floods that turned basements, roads, and subway stations into waterlogged danger zones — and brought the city’s evening commute to a standstill.
In dramatic scenes shared on social media, New Yorkers were seen clinging to subway gates and trudging through floodwaters, with some donning plastic bags over their shoes in a desperate effort to stay dry.
One widely circulated clip showed commuters at the 7th Avenue station in Brooklyn navigating through rising water at the entrance, while others tried to keep their footing as water poured through tiled walls deeper inside the station.
Set to the tune of Taylor Swift’s “Welcome to New York,” another video captured the surreal image of passengers wading ankle-deep through murky water, tiptoeing across turnstiles and gate rails to avoid full immersion.
Grand Central Terminal wasn’t spared either — it looked as if it were raining indoors, with water visibly cascading from the ceiling and soaking a Metro-North train during peak rush hour.
In Queens, tracks at the Bayside Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station resembled a river. A packed train was forced to stop and evacuate as floodwaters nearly reached the platform. The Port Washington Branch of the LIRR was suspended in both directions near Flushing Main Street.
“The Uber home from Penn Station was quoting me $300 — during rush hour!” said Bayside commuter John D’Olimpio, speaking with NBC New York.
The Clearview Expressway near 207th Street was also inundated. Video from the scene showed multiple vehicles stranded, including a tractor trailer with water reaching halfway up its cab.
In response to the widespread flooding, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for New York City and nearby counties. Officials urged residents in basement apartments to evacuate and prepare for continued disruptions.
By Friday morning, city crews were still pumping out flooded stations, with limited LIRR service on the Port Washington line as repairs continued.
According to the National Weather Service, the city saw 1 to 3 inches of rainfall, while Queens and Nassau County recorded more than 3 inches, and south-central Suffolk County was drenched with over 5 inches.
The storm, part of a broader East Coast weather system, left a trail of flooded roads, disrupted travel, and a reminder of the city’s vulnerability to extreme weather.
