Flash flooding impacts the Northeast amid multiple rounds of storms
By Meteorologists Mary Gilbert, Chris Dolce, CNN
(CNN) — Rounds of storms dumped rain on the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Thursday, setting off flash flooding in parts of the already-soaked regions.
Stalled storms over southwestern New Jersey dropped 4 to 6 inches of rain in just a few hours Thursday afternoon. A “large number” of water rescues were carried out in the Glassboro area and nearby Harrison Township, Gloucester County Emergency Management spokesperson Andrew Halter told CNN.
Farther north, near Newark Liberty International Airport, police reported “extreme flooding” throughout the city of Elizabeth and surrounding areas.
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Rainfall rates of nearly 2 inches per hour were reported in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, about an hour northwest of Philadelphia. Rates topping 1 inch per hour were seen south of Philly.
Flash flooding has been a recurring presence in these regions over the summer: Storms with torrential rain flooded roadways in New York City and New Jersey as recently as last Thursday while also disrupting air travel in the busy corridor.
A flash flood warning was in place in New York City early Thursday evening.
More of the same is possible into early Friday morning with multiple rounds of storms to come — some of which could be severe with damaging wind gusts and perhaps a tornado.
Drenching storms first bubbled up late Thursday morning in southeastern Pennsylvania and expanded northeast to parts of New Jersey and New York City.
The second round of storms developed farther west, near the spine of the Appalachian Mountains Thursday afternoon as a cold front started to push into the Northeast from the Ohio Valley.
The storms have lost some of their punch near midnight, dropping the risk of damaging wind gusts, isolated hail and tornadoes. Even so, rain might not fully come to an end until early Friday morning.
A new round of showers and thunderstorms could develop farther east on Friday, stretching from southern New England into parts of Delaware and Maryland. These storms aren’t currently forecast to be a significant flood threat, but if they roll over any areas that get soaked on Thursday, that may change.
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Meteorologist Briana Waxman and CNN’s Isa Mudannayake contributed to this report.
