Heavy rainstorms lashed parts of New York and Pennsylvania, leading to flooding and the need for rescue operations on Sunday. The US Northeast is expecting more wet weather in the coming days.
Videos and photos shared by US Representative Mike Lawler showed flooding in Stony Point, a town north of New York City. Similar flooding occurred in Pennsylvania, with roads in Quakertown submerged and at least one driver requiring rescue by the fire department.
“Significant flooding in Stony Point — homes and cars — and
many people evacuated,” he wrote.
Significant flooding in Stony Point — homes and cars — and many people evacuated. Thank you to all of our first responders on the scene. Everyone stay off the roads, as the flash flood warning is still in effect and roadways have been flooded and washed out. pic.twitter.com/8DCVRvxVDY
— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) July 9, 2023
According to meteorologist Bryan Jackson from the National Weather Service, a weather pattern more typical of colder months had developed over Ontario, Canada, interacting with the regular summer moisture. Central Pennsylvania and southern New York experienced the heaviest rainfall on Sunday. The Weather Service predicted widespread and potentially catastrophic flash flooding for parts of New England on Monday.
The Weather Prediction Center issued a high-risk warning, the highest level on its scale, for the Burlington area in Vermont on Monday. Jackson emphasized the expectation of significant to potentially catastrophic impacts.
In the vicinity of West Point, New York, which houses the United States Military Academy, a flash flood emergency was declared as radar estimates indicated that the area had already received around 9 inches (23 cm) of rain.
Blocked roads in Orange County, New York, posed challenges for rescue teams trying to reach isolated individuals, according to a county emergency management official cited by The New York Times.