Heavy downpours, flash flooding disrupt travel along US east coast

NEW YORK – New York Governor Kathy Hochul and her acting New Jersey counterpart declared states of emergency for areas facing the threat of flash floods on July 31 from heavy downpours disrupting rail and air travel along the eastern seaboard.

The National Weather Service posted flash flood warnings along parts of the north-east urban corridor stretching from the Washington-Baltimore region north through Philadelphia, Wilmington, Delaware, and into Newark, New Jersey, and the New York City metropolitan area.

Severe thunderstorm watches were also in effect across much of the Interstate 95 corridor, but forecasters said flash flood risks were starting to fade on the night of July 31.

The stormy weather appeared to be a key factor disrupting commercial air travel across the north-east on July 31.

The eight major airports serving the region – Washington Dulles, Baltimore-Washington, Ronald Reagan Washington National, Philadelphia, Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International and Boston Logan – accounted for the cancellation of at least 1,170 airline flights into, out of or within the US, according to online flight tracking service FlightAware.

Passenger rail travel was also hampered, with Amtrak reporting service suspended between Philadelphia and Wilmington due to severe storms flooding the tracks. Service was restored about two hours later as water receded, but “residual delays” were expected, Amtrak said on X.

A daily rainfall outlook map issued by the Weather Prediction Centre put the risk of “excessive” showers capable of triggering flash floods at 40 per cent or higher for a swathe of the mid-Atlantic and north-east that is home to 37 million people.

Up to 12.7cm of rain was forecast in the heaviest bands of showers expected across New York City, Long Island and the Hudson River Valley, with rainfall rates that could exceed 5cm per hour, according to a statement from Mrs Hochul.

“I am urging all New Yorkers to stay vigilant, stay informed, and use caution as we expect excessive rainfall with the potential for flash flooding,” she said.

New Jersey was bracing itself for rainfall totals of 2.5cm to 7.6cm generally, with localised downpours that could produce 12.7cm to 17.1cm, Acting New Jersey Governor Tahesha Way said in her declaration.

She warned that the extreme rainfall could trigger landslides, rock slides and flash flooding of roadways across New Jersey, with additional hazards posed by damaging winds from thunderstorms.

“Residents should remain off the roads and indoors unless absolutely necessary,” Mrs Way, the lieutenant governor, said in a statement. She is temporarily serving as the state’s chief executive while Governor Phil Murphy was out of the state on vacation with his family.

The weather service attributed the storm threat to a cold front that was bringing a combination of unstable air mass and exceptional amounts of atmospheric moisture to the region. REUTERS