New York City Weather Alert: 1-2 Inches of Rain Could Flood Roads Until Noon Sunday

New York, New York – Rainfall rates approaching 2 inches per hour could overwhelm streets and poor-drainage areas around New York City Sunday morning, with isolated to scattered flash flooding possible before the heaviest rain shifts east.

According to the National Weather Service New York office, a Flood Watch remains in effect until noon Sunday for the New York City metro, northeast New Jersey and much of Westchester County. Showers and embedded thunderstorms could produce rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour across the city, northeast New Jersey and southern Westchester.

New York City, northeast New Jersey and southern Westchester could receive 1 to 2 inches of rain, with localized totals near 3 inches. Urban streets, low-lying locations and quick-responding streams and creeks face the greatest flooding threat.

Conditions could become more serious farther east. Long Island and much of southern Connecticut could receive 1.5 to 2.5 inches, with localized totals approaching 5 inches. Peak rainfall rates of 2 to 2.5 inches per hour are possible across Long Island and portions of coastal Connecticut.

The heaviest rain should shift east of the New York City and Hudson River corridor after 10 a.m., while downpours continue across eastern Long Island and southeastern Connecticut into early afternoon.

Drivers should avoid flooded streets and never attempt to cross water covering a roadway. The Flood Watch continues until noon around New York City and until 6 a.m. Monday for Long Island and much of southern Connecticut.