Record Downpour Causes Fatal Flooding in NYC

A strong storm pummeled the tristate area Thursday, unleashing a sudden, record-breaking downpour that swamped New York City — dumping more than two inches in minutes and producing extreme rainfall rates locally up to roughly six inches per hour — while coastal New Jersey faced whipping winds and tidal flooding. The rains flooded streets, subway stations, basements and cars across all five boroughs, broke daily rainfall records at Central Park as well as LaGuardia and Newark airports, and overwhelmed sewer systems designed for about 1.75 inches per hour. At least two men were found dead in flooded basements — a 39-year-old in East Flatbush who witnesses say drowned after returning to rescue a dog, and a man in Washington Heights recovered from a flooded boiler room amid reports he was electrocuted — with bodies recovered by dive teams and first responders. Coastal New Jersey and the Jersey Shore saw gusts reported around 50–52 mph, toppled trees and property damage, and the National Weather Service issued coastal flood warnings and wind advisories for ocean counties. Floodwaters raised contamination concerns around the Gowanus Canal, neighbors worked to clear drains, and city officials and local lawmakers urged greater investment in flood infrastructure as cleanup continued; forecasters said rain would taper by Saturday though windy conditions could persist into Friday and Halloween.