English
Forecasters put approximately 39 million people under flood alerts late Saturday and into Sunday as a powerful line of thunderstorms swept across the East Coast, stretching from Washington, D.C., to New Haven, Connecticut. New York City Emergency Management urged residents to prepare for heavy rain and potential flash flooding through Sunday morning.
Shelters Open as Flooding Threat Grows
New York City opened 51 weather shelters to protect vulnerable residents. Officials specifically targeted people living in basement apartments, who face the greatest risk during flash flood events.
Stay connected to every major update — subscribe and follow us on the PhoenixQ website and across our social media platforms.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service issued a series of flood watches and alerts across multiple states. Parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey all fell under warnings late Saturday through early Sunday. A flood watch for Washington, D.C., expired at 1 a.m. Sunday, while Philadelphia and its neighboring counties remained under a flood watch through the morning.
In New York City, a flood watch took effect at 4 a.m. Sunday and extended through noon. A separate flood watch covering parts of southern Connecticut, including northern New Haven, remained in effect through Sunday afternoon.
Eastern Boroughs Face Highest Risk
Officials warned that Nassau and Suffolk counties, along with southern Connecticut, could receive between 5 and 7 inches of rain. New York City’s eastern boroughs also faced a significant threat.
“A small shift in where the rain sets up would bring 5 to 7 inch totals and a much higher flash flooding risk into eastern Brooklyn and Queens,” New York City Emergency Management said in a statement. The agency urged residents in those neighborhoods, particularly those in basement and below-grade apartments, to move to higher ground immediately.
Cold Air Trough Drives the Storms
Federal forecasters explained that the storm system developed as a trough of cold air high in the atmosphere pushed eastward. That cold air collided with warmer surface air, triggering the intense thunderstorms.
The National Weather Service highlighted the dangerous mix of conditions in a forecast discussion late Saturday. “The combination of instability, deep moisture, and forcing may lead to an elevated threat for excessive rainfall and severe thunderstorms,” the agency said. As a result, forecasters urged residents across the affected region to monitor conditions closely and avoid flood-prone areas throughout the night and into Sunday.
