Police said drivers had to be rescued from flooded roads in New Jersey as much of the tri-state area was doused with a bout of stormy weather fueled by the wave of heat, haze and humidity that has smothered the area for the last several days.
The storm took parts of the Jersey Shore by surprise, where streets became shallow rivers in Seaside Heights and in Asbury Park. In Toms River, police they had to rescue stranded motorists on Route 37, a major thoroughfare in the township. Around 20 to 30 vehicles were disabled in the waters, many of them requiring assistance from high-water emergency vehicles to bring the car's occupants out.
There were no injuries.
"We're coming along this bend, and just a huge wave of water comes up, the car stalls and it dies," said driver Lauren Russnak.
A gas station off Route 37 quickly turned into a triage center for waterlogged cars, and mechanic Lenny Ritorto tried his best to get everyone's vehicles running again.
"Everybody is popping the hoods, trying to get them down, and he got most of them running," said driver Ray Sandquist.
Intense winds were also reported in parts of the Jersey Shore.
Elsewhere, hail fell, pelting backyard patios in Westchester County with quarter-sized balls of ice.
The stormy system moved out Thursday night as a passing cold front dried lingering showers.
Thursday's stormy conditions amid a heat wave that has helped propel this month to be one of the five hottest Mays on record in New York City, with an average temperature near 70 degrees.
Local
Conditions are expected to be more tenable on Friday and Saturday, with highs in the low to mid 80s and partly to mostly sunny skies.
Much-needed rain looks likely Sunday into Monday as a slow-moving front soaks the region with much-needed rain. More than 1 inch of rain is possible between Sunday and Monday.
After that, the region will ring out amid sunny conditions and balmy temperatures in the 60s and 70s through Thursday.
