East Coast thunderstorms trigger flood alerts and NYC opens shelters for vulnerable residents
Federal forecasters warned 39 million people of flash-flood risk as a line of thunderstorms moved from Washington, D.C. to Connecticut, and New York City Emergency Management opened 51 shelters for those at risk of rising waters.
Federal forecasters issued flood alerts covering 39 million people as a corridor of thunderstorms developed from Washington, D.C. to New Haven, Connecticut. The National Weather Service placed flood watches on Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and, later, New York City, with the city’s watch set from 4 a.m. to noon on Sunday. New York City Emergency Management warned that 5-7 inches of rain could hit Nassau and Suffolk counties and southern Connecticut, raising flash-flood danger for eastern Brooklyn and Queens.
The agency opened 51 weather shelters for residents in basement apartments and other at-risk groups, urging them to move to higher ground. Flood watches also remained in effect for Philadelphia and parts of southern Connecticut through the afternoon. Meteorologists attributed the threat to a cold-air trough colliding with warm, moist air, creating conditions for heavy rain and severe thunderstorms.
Why it matters
Heavy rain could cause flash flooding and endanger residents in vulnerable housing across the New York metropolitan area.
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