Heavy bands of rain are saturating much of the tri-state area Friday causing localized flooding on roadways and low-lying areas as the remnants of Andrea, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, lashes the region during the evening commute.
Torrential rain are battering the area into the overnight hours as the heaviest bands hit the tri-state, Storm Team 4 meteorologists say.
Torrential rain are battering the area into the overnight hours as the heaviest bands hit the tri-state, Storm Team 4 meteorologists say.
Flood warnings have been issued for Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Hudson, Mercer, Morris, Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union counties in New Jersey. The warnings are all expected to expire by 3 a.m. Saturday.
Flash flood warnings have expired for New York City and Long Island, though residents are still urged to remain cautious. Flood watches are in effect for most of upstate New York and Connecticut.
Flooding shut down highways across the tri-state, including a portion of the Saw Mill River Parkway in Westchester, and slowed traffic significantly in places like the West Side Highway and the Northern State Parkway and Sunrise Highway on Long Island. To stay up to date on the latest closures, follow @Traffic4NY on Twitter.
VIDEO: Parts of Saw Mill Parkway Closed After Flooding
Though Andrea was downgraded to an extra-tropical storm shortly before 5 p.m., flooding was expected to worsen before the storm passes through. Long Island saw some of the worst flooding, in some places measuring more than 5 inches by late Friday night. Wantagh saw nearly 5.5 inches of rain, and Plainview got 5 inches.
Though Andrea was downgraded to an extra-tropical storm shortly before 5 p.m., flooding was expected to worsen before the storm passes through. Long Island saw some of the worst flooding, in some places measuring more than 5 inches by late Friday night. Wantagh saw nearly 5.5 inches of rain, and Plainview got 5 inches.
That amount of rain over a relatively short period heightens the risk for flooding, particularly in low-lying areas and on streets and highways in cities like Hoboken, N.J., where water doesn't drain efficiently even when it only rains a little bit.
Hoboken suggested residents move their cars to higher ground and offered discounted parking at two garages. The city also activated its emergency response system ahead of the storm.
Resident Brian Smalleys, who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars repairing his home after Sandy, said he has trouble sleeping when it rains heavily now.
“I just get nervous, I don’t want it to happen again,” he said.
VIDEO: Hoboken Residents Fear Damage from Heavy Rains
Nearby Jersey City set up barricades along flood-prone streets.
There's a high rip current risk along the Jersey shore with surf heights of 4 to 6 feet and the high rainfall totals could also send rivers flowing over their banks.
Nearby Jersey City set up barricades along flood-prone streets.
There's a high rip current risk along the Jersey shore with surf heights of 4 to 6 feet and the high rainfall totals could also send rivers flowing over their banks.
VIDEO: Floodgates Go Down in Middlesex Ahead of Storm
The heaviest rain is expected to wind down after midnight and move out entirely Saturday morning, giving way to mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-to-high 70s by the afternoon.
The heaviest rain is expected to wind down after midnight and move out entirely Saturday morning, giving way to mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-to-high 70s by the afternoon.
