Intense rain and flash floods expected from New York City to Washington DC
Forecasters are predicting intense rainfall, with rates possibly reaching up to 3 inches an hour. While most areas are expected to receive 1 to 3 inches of rain, certain isolated locations could see as much as 5 to 8 inches.
In anticipation of the severe weather, the acting New Jersey governor, Tahesha Way, has declared a state of emergency for the state, effective at 2pm on Thursday. The declaration comes amid concerns over flooding, strong thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and gusty winds.
'Beginning this afternoon, we are expecting severe thunderstorms to bring heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts with the potential for flash flooding across the state,' said Way. 'I urge all New Jerseyans to remain alert, follow all safety protocols, and monitor the proper channels for the duration of these storms. Residents should remain off the roads and indoors unless absolutely necessary.'
The combination of saturated ground and intense downpours raises the risk of hazardous conditions such as flash floods, rock slides, and landslides. Officials warn that travel could become dangerous, especially during the evening commute, when the heaviest rain is expected.
Storm activity could kick off as early as 1pm and continue well into the night.
In addition to New Jersey's emergency declaration, New York City has issued a travel advisory for both Thursday and Friday. A flood watch will go into effect on Thursday afternoon.
'Be prepared for a serious storm,' the mayor, Eric Adams, said in a social media post. 'Avoid traveling if you can, and set up any flood prevention tools in advance,' he added.
Zachary Iscol, commissioner of New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM), also warned those in the area that the storm system 'could bring intense rainfall rates and amounts in a very short period of time'. He added that the NYCEM has already activated the flash flood emergency plan.
The warnings come just two weeks after intense rain storms hit parts of the northeastern US, flooding New York City subways and resulting in two deaths in New Jersey.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
34 minutes ago
- The Independent
The unspoken rules of New York City: What tourists get wrong by brutally honest locals
Trip to the Big Apple shaping up nicely? Flights, hotel and dinner all booked? Great. But now for the part the guidebooks don't tell you — things tourists do that drive locals mad. The answers are courtesy of an "r/AskNYC" Reddit thread started by a user asking: " New Yorkers — what's the one thing that instantly annoys you the moment you step outside your door?" The thread was quickly flooded with brutally honest comments from New Yorkers keen to air their grievances. And faux pas by tourists featured heavily. One top-ranking mistake was simply failing to fit in with the rhythm of the city while on foot. For example, one user remarked that what made them angry was friends "walking four in a line down the entire sidewalk like the cast of Sex and the City and not letting people get around them". Another similarly exasperated commenter said: "I just encountered four people walking abreast, not fast, on a narrow sidewalk. There may have been an actual growl. Honestly, if they hadn't moved, I was considering barking." Making sudden sidewalk stops to "take a picture or to look up at 'how high the buildings are'" is another no-no, as is walking slowly "while glued to your phone". Visitors make mistakes negotiating the subway, too. For instance, one commenter suggested tourists should figure out how MetroCards work "before they crowd around a turnstile". And they shouldn't slow down while descending stairs to a platform when they see that their train isn't there, as people behind might be rushing to catch one that's about to leave. Once you're on the platform, say the thread contributors, let others off before you board, take your backpack off, and "if you are standing in front of an open seat on a crowded car, sit down, because you're not doing anyone any favors, you're just making it more crowded". And don't stand in the doorway. Move down inside the car. Rented a car? Remember that New Yorkers get around on foot, so be alert at crosswalks and only use the horn when absolutely necessary. One user remarked that what angers them are "cars that damn near run you over in the crosswalk even though you have the walk signal", and "when they actually yield to you, the cars behind that person beep incessantly at them to mow everyone on the crosswalk down". Another user concurred, adding: "Yeah, this one raises my hackles. Like, you want this car to run me over? You're so impatient that vehicular manslaughter is your preference?" A lack of awareness at some tourist sites is another cause of frustration. One user remarked: "Seriously, taking selfies at Ground Zero. What is wrong with people?" Commenting on the thread, Ivan Martinović, New York City resident and business owner of Lifestyle Moving & Storage, said: "Tourists don't realize just how important flow is to city life. "The second you walk out your door in New York, you're part of the system. There's no pulling over without consequences. "We don't hate tourists — but we do expect them to keep up."
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Terrifying moment commuters flee smoke-filled train after it burst into flames in New Jersey
This is the terrifying moment commuters had to flee a smoke-filled train after it burst into flames in New Jersey. The fire began beneath an east-bound train at the Newport PATH station in Jersey City at around 6.15am on Monday (August 4) as workers were making their way into New York City. In a video shot by Joseph Nikhil Reddy, passengers can be seen scrambling to get off as the car fills with smoke before flames are seen blazing from the tracks beneath. Thirteen people were treated for smoke inhalation with nine requiring a visit to the hospital. The blaze caused chaos for commuters trying to get into the Big Apple during Monday morning rush hour.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The elite status symbol ultra-wealthy are now using to set themselves apart from wealthy
The new indicator of ultra wealth isn't owning mansions or diamonds, it's flying private. Owning personal jets, or even chartering private planes, is incredibly expensive. But as the number of millionaires and billionaires grows, it's becoming increasingly common. The price of a private jet depends on size, model, age and custom features – but it's certainly no less than a few million dollars, and can cost as much as $100 million. As of 2023 there are between 22,000 and 23,000 private jets exist worldwide - with 15,000 of them being in the US, according to Blackjet data. There was a major increase in private jet usage after the pandemic because flyers were concerned about getting COVID-19 on crowded commercial flights. Kenn Ricci, pilot and chairman of private-jet company Flexjet, said that the 'frugal wealthy' class of people who earn a lot of money but don't splurge started splashing out on travel during the pandemic and never went back. Hours flown in private-jet hours flown hit record numbers in 2022 and have stayed up ever since. 'It's in vogue to be wealthy,' Ricci told the Wall Street Journal. 'Sometimes we love the rich. Sometimes we hate the rich.' Private jets are thought to be used by the rich and famous, but others climbing up the wealth ladder are joining them in this luxury. Indeed, having 'private-jet money' is the new goal amongst the wealthy, dividing the 1 percent from the 0.1 percent. The US added more than 1,000 millionaires every day last year on average, according to UBS, and the billionaire club grew over 50 percent between 2015 and 2024. It costs between $5,000 and $15,000 per flying hour to charter a private jet depending on its size, according to Wheels Up a private jet membership and charter company. Maxx Chewning sold his sour-candy business Sour Strips to Hershey for $75.5 million in 2024 and the first thing he did was fly his wife and six friends to Vail on Dassault Falcon 900 private jet. He spent $100,000 so that they could skip security lines and fly in the comfort of leather recliners within the wood-paneled cabin. Chewning's goldendoodle Dood sprawled at their feet. 'The joke is, I had to get a private plane so I could bring my dog,' the 35-year-old said according to the WSJ. 'I didn't really care what the price was.' Tennille Holt, 44, retired in 2023 and nowadays spends her time traveling the world with her husband and eight-year-old cavapoo Hudson. Hudson, who has his own Instagram account where he documents his travels, has grown accustomed to being fed grilled chicken on private jets. Holt and her husband spent $200,000 to from Hudson from Australia to Los Angeles to avoid hauling him on the 14 hour commercial flight. 'The goal was to create the freedom to live life on our own terms, which now includes plenty of travel and the ability to fly privately whenever we want, ' Holt says. 'It's the best and most comfortable option for Hudson.' It's not just the comfort, privacy and convenience of private aviation that appeals to the rich and famous, such jets offer luxuries in the way of fine dining, spa treatments and advanced entertainment systems. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa created an exclusive a menu for VistaJet passengers that includes a Nobu steamed salmon dry miso dish. On some flights, cabin staff are trained to give travelers facials in their with Dr. Barbara Sturm's luxury skin care line. Kevin Hooks, 63, is a Flexjet customers who spends around $800,000 each year on private travel, usually to cross the Southwest in a Praetor 600 midsize business jet that seats nine. Hooks has been flying private for two years and says he has noticed plane hangars around the country growing more crowded since the pandemic. He still takes commercial planes sometimes and recalls his four-year-old son getting on a Southwest Airlines flight and asking, 'Who are these other people on the plane?' Kim Kardashian is one of many celebrities who has her own private jet, which she paid $150 million for. The luxurious Gulfstream G650ER private jet, nicknamed 'Kim Air', features cashmere-covered seats, custom light wood finishes and two bathrooms. It reportedly has 10 beds on it and each of the seats has its own charging points. Canadian rapper Drake's private jet is even more expensive, with an estimated cost of $185 million. The plane has a luxurious lounge area, a bedroom and also features Drake's own OVO - October's Very Own - owl symbol on the exterior.
