New York weather turned dangerous overnight as heavy rain and flash flooding were expected to keep affecting the Wednesday morning commute across the Tri-State area. In Paterson, Mayor Andre Sayegh said emergency crews rescued more than 20 people from dangerous conditions as floodwaters filled streets and sidewalks.
Some areas of northwestern New Jersey had already seen close to 10 inches of rain, and Brittany Bell reported rainfall totals across the Tri-State area since storms arrived. That amount put a hard number on what drivers and transit riders were already dealing with: flooded roads, standing water and slow travel before the morning rush.
Paterson rescues and Newark roads
Sayegh said the rescues came as floodwaters in Paterson turned roadways into rivers and swept vehicles away. Officials urged drivers to avoid flooded roads in Paterson and Newark, where standing water continued to pose a safety risk.
Cleanup efforts were underway across northern New Jersey after storms triggered widespread flooding and left more than 7,000 customers without power. A downed tree fell onto a home in Midland Park, New Jersey, on Tuesday during the storm, and an unnamed homeowner described the force of the impact: “We were in our family room, watching a movie, relaxed as possible. Then all of the sudden, we hear a boom from the tree, and that's when we noticed something was going on. We looked through the window, but we were like, 'No, we gotta get out of here.' We decided to run, and we heard this thump. It's a big tree. It literally moved the ground. Our whole house just moved.”
New York City before 3 a.m.
Lee said New York City could still be affected for the morning commute, but the timing depended on how the low pressure system moved. If it tracked up the coast, heavy rain could continue in New York City until 4 or 5 a.m. before pushing north and east, with longer-lasting rain over the Hudson Valley.
The more likely scenario, Lee said, was heavy rain lasting in New York City until at least 3 a.m. before focusing more north and east of the city. An AccuWeather Alert remained in effect Wednesday morning for flooding problems and lingering showers, especially north and east of New York City.
Wednesday morning commute
Conditions were expected to slowly improve through Wednesday, with no widespread heavy rain after the morning hours. Travelers were advised to allow extra time and stay alert for flooded roadways, especially where standing water was still covering streets and sidewalks.
For people in Paterson, Newark and other parts of northern New Jersey, the practical issue is the same one still sitting on the roads at daybreak: how quickly the water drains before traffic returns to normal. Until then, the safest move is to avoid flooded roads and expect delays where runoff has not cleared.
