Home / Weather / NYC Drenched: Hail, Floods Batter City
NYC Drenched: Hail, Floods Batter City
19 Jul
Summary
- New York City experienced pea-sized hail and flash flooding on Saturday.
- Severe weather warnings included damaging winds, heavy rain, and potential isolated tornadoes.
- The storms were expected to help clear the lingering smoke from Canadian wildfires.
New York City experienced significant severe weather on Saturday, marked by "pea-sized hail" and flash flooding that left numerous drivers stranded and trapped across the boroughs. This chaotic weather followed days of heavy heat and smoky skies due to Canadian wildfires.
City officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul, urged residents to stay indoors and take the severe weather seriously. Warnings were issued for strong thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds up to 70 mph, heavy rainfall leading to flash floods, and even the possibility of an isolated tornado.
The National Weather Service had placed the city under a flood watch from Saturday morning until early Sunday morning. Rainfall totals were anticipated to range from 1 to 1.5 inches, with localized areas potentially receiving up to 4 inches. The rain was seen as a positive development, expected to finally clear the persistent smoke haze affecting the tristate area.
