<p>New York City was hit by severe flash flooding earlier this week, after a powerful storm dropped over two inches of torrential rain in rapid bursts. The intense downpour shattered century-old weather records, with Central Park recording 2.31 inches of rain—surpassing a daily record set in 1917—and LaGuardia Airport recording 2.25 inches, breaking its 1955 record.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Major flash flooding brought a river onto the road in New York, United States.(August 20)<br><br>When are they going to fix the drainage system? <a href="https://t.co/iisfAZdx4k">pic.twitter.com/iisfAZdx4k</a></p>&mdash; Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) <a href="https://x.com/WeatherMonitors/status/2090698054882210133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>The underground transit stations transformed into waterfalls and flooding platforms. Severe delays and suspensions impacted multiple lines, including the 1 train at 23rd Street. Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed at LaGuardia International Airport and JFK International Airport. Nearby Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey experienced similar major transit halts.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/zohran-mamdani-did-you-know-these-things-about-new-york-s-new-mayor-1762352609451">Zohran Mamdani: Did you know these things about New York's new mayor</a></p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Was Mayor Mamdani prepared for this?<br>NYC streets almost turned to rivers after being hit by heavy storms.<br>Affected NYC, Brooklyn, Queens. The Long Island Expressway flooded.... <a href="https://t.co/69SmuFzP7R">pic.twitter.com/69SmuFzP7R</a></p>&mdash; Blanche Victoria (@tammytabby) <a href="https://x.com/tammytabby/status/2090817718572195871?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/new-york-to-use-contraceptives-instead-of-glue-traps-and-poison-to-get-rid-of-city-rats-711502">New York to use contraceptives instead of glue traps and poison to get rid of rats</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>According tot latest weather report, the worst of the weather system has moved out, and transit authorities are currently continuing to assess structural damages. The New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) advises residents in basement units or flood-prone neighborhoods to remain highly vigilant during recurring storms. For local alerts, register through the official Notify NYC platform.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Amid flooding, reports indicated that New York is planning to create underground storage capable of holding stormwater before it overwhelms the sewer network. This will be buildt beneath parks, schoolyards, parking areas and other public spaces. According to NYC Gov, the $95 million Homecrest project is part of a wider shift in how the city prepares for increasingly intense rainfall, using everyday public spaces as part of the drainage system rather than relying entirely on pipes and sewers. The project will cover roughly 350 acres around some of the neighbourhood’s most flood-prone streets and is designed for storms that can drop more than two inches of rain in an hour.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

New York City was hit by severe flash flooding after torrential rain broke century-old rainfall records. Central Park recorded 2.31 inches and LaGuardia 2.25 inches, while subway stations flooded and major disruptions hit flights at LaGuardia, JFK and Newark airports.

New York City was hit by severe flash flooding earlier this week, after a powerful storm dropped over two inches of torrential rain in rapid bursts. The intense downpour shattered century-old weather records, with Central Park recording 2.31 inches of rain—surpassing a daily record set in 1917—and LaGuardia Airport recording 2.25 inches, breaking its 1955 record.

<p>New York City was hit by severe flash flooding after torrential rain broke century-old rainfall records. Central Park recorded 2.31 inches and LaGuardia 2.25 inches, while subway stations flooded and major disruptions hit flights at LaGuardia, JFK and Newark airports.</p>

New York battered by flash floods as rain breaks century-old records - VIDEO

<p>A female sea lion named Sally made a brief escape from her enclosure at the Central Park Zoo after heavy rains inundated New York City, leading to flooding on the zoo grounds.</p>

<p>Zoo workers closely monitored Sally as she ventured around the area near her enclosure before eventually rejoining the other two sea lions in the pool, New York Times reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>By the late afternoon, the floodwaters at the zoo had receded, and all animals were safely contained in their enclosures.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-city-state-of-emergency-declared-as-strong-storms-bring-flash-flooding-641041">New York City: State of emergency declared as strong storms bring flash flooding - Video</a></strong></p>

<p>During the storm, no zoo staff members were in danger, and the city's four zoos were closed to allow employees to focus on ensuring the animals' safety.</p>

<p>"When we arrived at the Arsenal, everything was quite flooded. We watched Sally explore the area around her enclosure and then return," Karen Dugan an employee at New York's park department was quoted as saying by New York Times. Dugan and her colleagues at the city's parks department had an unusual view of the wandering sea lion from their third-floor offices in the Arsenal, a building within the park overlooking the zoo.</p>

<h2><strong>Downpour in New York City</strong></h2>

<p>Torrential downpours after a week of mostly steady rainfall brought flash flooding to New York City on September 29, disrupting subway service, inundating ground-level apartments and turning some streets into small lakes.</p>

<p>Almost eight inches (20 cm) of rain fell in some parts of the most populous city in the US, enough to enable a sea lion at Central Park Zoo to swim briefly out of the confines of her pool enclosure.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;New York: Heavy rain floods streets, strands car; emergency announced</strong></p>

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<p>Another few inches could fall in the region before the storm system pushed out to sea later on Friday, forecasters said, Reuters reported.</p>

<p>New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned of "life-threatening" floods and declared a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.</p>

<p>Flooding caused major disruptions to New York's subway system and the Metro North commuter rail service, Metropolitan Transportation Agency, which operates both the services, said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some subway lines were closed completely for the public, and many stations were closed. Some bus routes slowed to a crawl, trapping riders for hours. Officials warned some New Yorkers to avoid traveling unless they were fleeing a flooded area.</p>

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A female sea lion named Sally made a brief escape from her enclosure at the Central Park Zoo after heavy rains inundated New York City, leading to flooding on the zoo grounds.

A female sea lion named Sally made a brief escape from her enclosure at the Central Park Zoo after heavy rains inundated New York City, leading to flooding on the zoo grounds. Zoo workers closely monitored Sally as she ventured around the area near her enclosure before eventually rejoining the other two sea lions in the pool, New York Times reported. By the late afternoon, the floodwaters at the zoo had receded, and all animals were safely contained in their enclosures. Also read | New York City: State of emergency declared as strong storms bring flash flooding - Video During the storm, no zoo staff members were in danger, and the city's four zoos were closed to allow employees to focus on ensuring the animals' safety. "When we arrived at the Arsenal, everything was quite flooded. We watched Sally explore the area around her enclosure and then return," Karen Dugan an employee at New York's park department was quoted as saying by New York Times. Dugan and her colleagues at the city's parks department had an unusual view of the wandering sea lion from their third-floor offices in the Arsenal, a building within the park overlooking the zoo. Downpour in New York City Torrential downpours after a week of mostly steady rainfall brought flash flooding to New York City on September 29, disrupting subway service, inundating ground-level apartments and turning some streets into small lakes. Almost eight inches (20 cm) of rain fell in some parts of the most populous city in the US, enough to enable a sea lion at Central Park Zoo to swim briefly out of the confines of her pool enclosure. Also watch | New York: Heavy rain floods streets, strands car; emergency announced × Another few inches could fall in the region before the storm system pushed out to sea later on Friday, forecasters said, Reuters reported. New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned of "life-threatening" floods and declared a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. Flooding caused major disruptions to New York's subway system and the Metro North commuter rail service, Metropolitan Transportation Agency, which operates both the services, said. Some subway lines were closed completely for the public, and many stations were closed. Some bus routes slowed to a crawl, trapping riders for hours. Officials warned some New Yorkers to avoid traveling unless they were fleeing a flooded area. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Life threatening' New York rains make Sally the Sea Lion to make brief escape

US President Joe Biden continued his tour of damage caused by Hurricane Ida, traveling to New York and New Jersey to see the first-hand devastation caused by the massive storm inflicted on the Northeast.

Biden tours flood-hit area, calls for action on climate change

Gravitas | Water is gushing into subways and apartments in New York. There is water everywhere. The videos look straight out of a horror movie. New York has declared an emergency. WION's Palki Sharma brings you a report.

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New York battered by flash floods as rain breaks century-old records - VIDEO

'Life threatening' New York rains make Sally the Sea Lion to make brief escape

Biden tours flood-hit area, calls for action on climate change

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