Heavy rain and flash floods batter US east coast with emergency declared in New York
A total of almost 50 million people in the US are under flood watches, and states of emergency have been declared in New Jersey and New York City, with state workers being sent home early.
Airports in NYC, New Jersey and Philadelphia all reported significant flight delays and cancellations as the severe weather arrived on Thursday.
Flights leaving all three of New York's largest airports are delayed, and all inbound flights are being held until conditions improve, Sky's US partner NBC News reports.
Planes have also been grounded at airports in Washington DC and Baltimore, Maryland.
A major highway in the New York borough of Queens was closed in both directions, with traffic cameras and social media posts showing vehicles stranded in deep water.
Officials in New York have warned that heavy rain could also flood parts of the subway and basements.
People living in basements have been urged to move to higher floors and New Yorkers are being asked to avoid travel until Friday afternoon.
The commuter rail system into suburban Long Island suspended trains on one of its busiest lines as officials pleaded with people to stay at home.
"Stay home this evening unless it's absolutely necessary for you to go out," Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman told Long Island residents.
0:47
Tornado warnings were also in place in New Jersey, and while no twisters were reported, more than 6,000 electricity customers have been left without power.
In some parts of Pennsylvania, National Weather Service warnings said there could be up to three inches of rain in just one hour, and a downpour flooded the streets of Reading.
Up to four inches of rain have fallen in parts of Maryland and Washington DC, and the heavy rain is continuing, NBC reports.
Flood and severe thunderstorm watches are in effect for parts of Pennsylvania until Friday, with four to six inches of rain possible in some areas.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Cruise worker reveals key mistake passengers make
A cruise ship worker has shared a crucial mistake passengers make on embarkation day that has the potential to ruin the entire holiday. Alley Kerr, from California , U.S., has worked as an entertainer on cruises for several years, including the likes of Royal Caribbean International. A cruise ship worker has shared a crucial mistake passengers make on embarkation day that has the potential to ruin the entire holiday. Alley Kerr, from California , U.S., has worked as an entertainer on cruises for several years, including the likes of Royal Caribbean International. She has since transitioned to travel content creating after moving to Japan , where she captures her adventures as a passenger on solo cruises, along with sharing insider tips in videos uploaded to her YouTube channel, @wanderlustalley . In a recent clip, she warned passengers of the hidden traps laying in wait that could hinder their whole experience. According to the seasoned cruise worker, embarkation day, also known as boarding day, can feel chaotic as long lines of guests queue to get on board. Some passengers worry about securing popular activities, restaurants and add-ons - which often leads to panic buying and everything becoming sold out. As reported by Ladbible , Alley said: 'On embarkation day, it is absolutely insane. If you can avoid waiting for embarkation day and get it done in advance, your life is going to be so much easier.' She noted that she often witnessed first time cruisers' disappointment after they realized there were no experiences left to book. Alley added: 'People who have never cruised before often get on the ship and then suddenly at the end of the day, they're like, "Oh, everything's sold out." There's limited availability for a lot of things.' Luckily, cruise passengers can often find cheaper and more varied shore excursions by booking independently through local tour operators at each destination, rather than relying solely on the cruise line's excursions.
The Sun
13 hours ago
- The Sun
I ditched New York City for upstate and found hundreds of vineyards, NASCAR racing experiences & world famous waterfalls
STANDING on Hurricane Deck with water whipping around me and Niagara Falls thundering behind, I'm experiencing a different side of New York. Most visitors cram into Manhattan, but New York City takes up just 0.56 per cent of the entire state. 6 6 6 Beyond the concrete jungle of America's most populated city lie vineyards, breweries, lakes, a whole lot of classic US charm and, of course, those famous falls. Upstate New York, despite its high-end reputation, is also much kinder on your wallet. The cost of two days in the city is equivalent to about six days outside when it comes to accommodation, dining and activities. My journey began in Syracuse, in the heart of the Finger Lakes region — a lush green area known for its scenic beauty and more than 1,600 vineyards. Without much persuasion, I stopped at a few to sample the local produce — I had a tipple at Anyela's vineyard and the Beak & Skiff brewery, which had very tasty ciders. A half-hour drive away is Skaneateles (pronounced skinny atlas), one of the region's most exclusive spots. Lake Skaneateles is said to be the cleanest in the world, but what really stands out is the shorefront, which is full of sprawling manors with sweeping lawns, guest houses and boat garages. It's a popular place for celebs, with former President Bill Clinton and his family known to holiday there. Just south of Syracuse lies Watkins Glen, which looks like a Hallmark movie set until you hear the roar of engines. The charming village is home to the Watkins Glen International track, where Formula 1 raced for 20 consecutive years from 1961 to 1980 before Nascar took over. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival I had a ride in the back of a pace car for a speedy lap (in motorsport, a pace car leads the racers in warm-up laps). And I saw a bright yellow American school bus — full of grinning students — tear around, too. Turns out that anyone can give it a try. You can even take your own car, or bus, for a spin. Rochester, a mid-sized city on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, was once a boom town built on flour mills and photography — it's the birthplace of Kodak. These days, it's better known for the Strong National Museum of Play, a huge, hands-on museum dedicated to toys, games and childhood. Here, I attempted (and failed) to beat other players at Pac-Man and gazed at an enormous collection of Barbie dolls that my five-year-old self would have loved. From there, I headed west to my final, and favourite, stop: Buffalo. Sitting where the Buffalo River meets Lake Erie, it proved that the state's 61 cities beyond NYC are also well worth exploring. Screams of delight I followed the riverfront past guided missile cruiser USS Little Rock, through Veterans Memorial Park, and on past the restored 1920s carousel at Canalside, where families queued for a ride. The standout spot, though, was RiverWorks — a creative reinvention of old grain silos, now home to ziplines, climbing walls, a big wheel, kayaking and lively bars. Buffalo is also the gateway to Niagara Falls, just a short drive away. I arrived at night to see the illuminations, a spectacle in itself. 6 6 6 But at that point I didn't quite grasp the full power of the famous waterfalls. The next day, I saw them in all their glory. Looking like a blue penguin in my oversized anorak, I boarded the Maid Of The Mist tourist boat to get closer to the thundering cascade. At first, the boat bobs along at a glacial pace. Then, after a light spray of water, the full force of the falls hits. Picture screams of delight, anoraks flapping and thousands of gallons of water crashing into the river below. If you want to feel it properly, head to the top deck. Prefer to stay dry? Stick to the lower level. The boat tour is a must — and so is the Cave Of The Winds. This attraction is a series of wooden walkways leading right to the base of Niagara's Bridal Veil Falls and up to the Hurricane Deck, where the water spray slams sideways and where standing still is a feat in itself. I managed to hold my pose just long enough for a photo, before stumbling away, soaked and buzzing with adrenaline. The Big Apple is a bucket-list must, of course, but don't forget to take a bite out of the rest of New York State, too.
Reuters
16 hours ago
- Reuters
Explainer: How prepared are U.S. grid operators for extreme heat this summer?
Aug 1 (Reuters) - Grid operators across the U.S. are revamping their forecasting methods, introducing reforms to power markets and streamlining interconnection processes to quickly connect more energy to the grid, as a potent combination of extreme weather and data center growth elevate power demand this summer. High temperatures and the expansion of power-hungry data centers are set to push 2025 summer power consumption to higher levels than the past four summers, federal regulators said earlier this year. Heat waves have already strained the power grid in parts of the country in recent weeks. 'Extreme weather events are becoming more common, and we are adjusting our planning for that,' said Dan Lockwood, PJM Interconnection spokesperson. Here's how grid operators are positioned to meet demand this summer, and longer-term measures they are taking to shore up the system. Heading into the summer, PJM had forecast power consumption to peak at just over 154,000 MW. The company, which is the largest grid operator in the U.S. and serves one in five Americans, said it is prepared to meet that demand, but warned that it could touch an all-time high of 166,000 MW in an extreme scenario. In that case, it would call on customers to reduce their power use in exchange for compensation. PJM has been streamlining its interconnection process to bring new power onto the grid. It has also fast-tracked projects that do not require extensive grid upgrades to connect to the system to get them online quicker. California Independent System Operator estimated it has a power surplus of 1,451 MW this summer, measured against the industry-standard, one in 10 year emergency event. That marks a reversal from three years ago, when it estimated a shortfall of 1,700 MW. CAISO has also been moving to quickly add new power to its grid, with around 25 GW added over the last five years, said Dede Subakti, vice president of system operations. Much of this has been battery storage, which helps balance supply and demand, bringing CAISO's total pool of battery storage to 11 GW. 'With all this additional capacity, we're sitting pretty good with 2025 summer,' Subakti said. However, the grid could still see shortfalls if a prolonged heat-wave affects the entire West, or if potential wildfires damage power transmission lines, CAISO said. ISO New England anticipates electricity demand will touch 24,803 MW this summer under normal weather conditions - and potentially 25,886 MW in case of extended heat waves - but expects to have adequate power to meet that. ISO-NE is one of the grid operators that is evaluating changes to its capacity auction to bolster grid reliability. This includes transitioning to a 'prompt' auction, held shortly before the power is needed, compared with the current practice of holding them three years in advance. In addition, it is looking to move to two seasonal commitment periods per year for the auction, to tackle the distinct risks that summer and winter demand pose to the grid. It intends to file an initial proposal for this new market structure with federal regulators before year end. Midcontinent Independent System Operator predicted that peak demand in its footprint could reach nearly 123 GW this summer, with roughly 138 GW of available power generation to meet that. Like other grid operators, however, it warned that extreme weather events still present a risk to the grid. MISO, which has been operating near its minimum reserve margin requirement since 2022, has also been making changes to its wholesale markets as grid risks grow, including assessing the reliability of its infrastructure on a seasonal basis. It implemented a 'reliability-based demand curve' in its latest auction, under which the price of electricity resources increases as the grid approaches its minimum requirements. MISO has added around 31 GW of nameplate power to its grid from 2020 through mid-2025, with another 10.9 GW estimated for this year. Meanwhile, nearly 11 GW of power resources have or are set to retire between 2020 through early 2026.
