New York City Faces Flood Threat for Second Consecutive Weekend
Heavy rain is expected to hit parts of the Northeast, including New York City, this weekend, posing a flood threat for the second weekend in a row. A cold front followed by remnants of former tropical storm Philippe are forecasted to bring significant rainfall to areas from northern New Jersey to Maine.
According to the Weather Prediction Center, these areas have a slight risk for excessive rainfall from Saturday morning through early Sunday. In addition to heavy rainfall, gusty winds and high surf along the New England coast are also expected.
While forecasters predict that this weekend’s storms won’t bring as much rain as last week’s record-setting rainfall, flood watches are still in effect for New York City and other hard-hit areas. Parts of southeastern New York, southern Connecticut, northeastern New Jersey, and much of Maine are under flood watch from Saturday morning through the evening.
Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible from the New York City area to New England, with the potential for up to 5 inches in Maine where the heaviest rain sets up. Maine and northern parts of New England are expected to see the most significant impacts from Philippe’s remnants.
This weekend marks the third in a row that the Northeast will experience heavy rainfall. Ophelia soaked the region on September 23, followed by last weekend’s torrential rain that caused widespread flooding and travel disruptions in New York City.
New York City officials are taking precautionary measures ahead of the storm. Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright advised basement residents to move their belongings to higher ground and urged residents to plan ahead due to the still-saturated grounds from last week’s storm. The city has more than 100 water rescue teams on standby, and crews are working to clear catch basins to better absorb the incoming water.
Experts and scientists have emphasized that human-induced climate change is a significant contributor to extreme weather events, which are expected to occur more frequently and with greater intensity. As climate events become the new normal, cities like New York must be prepared for the challenges they bring.