Heavy rainfall triggered widespread flash flooding across parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut on Sunday, forcing road closures, disrupting rail service and prompting numerous water rescues.
The National Weather Service said some of the hardest-hit areas included northern New Jersey, New York’s Westchester County and communities along Connecticut’s Interstate 95 corridor.
Flash flood warnings remained in effect across much of the region during the morning as rain fell at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour in some locations.
Connecticut’s coastal communities were particularly hard hit. Areas between Norwalk and Westport received between 6 and 7 inches of rain Sunday morning, with rainfall rates reaching as high as 3 to 4 inches per hour.
In Westport, firefighters conducted 13 rescues involving people trapped in vehicles by rising floodwaters. Images shared on social media showed several downtown businesses inundated.
Officials warned residents that dangerous conditions could continue even after the heaviest rainfall ended because of standing water and other hazards. They urged motorists to avoid flooded roads, obey barricades and give emergency crews room to operate.
Emergency crews were also busy in Bridgeport, where firefighters responded to repeated calls for assistance and deployed boats to rescue residents from flooded neighborhoods. Images released by the department showed people being evacuated from homes as rescuers moved through knee-deep water.
The flooding also caused significant transportation disruptions.
Metro-North Railroad and Amtrak reported delays and cancellations along rail lines serving New Haven, Norwalk, Bridgeport and other Connecticut communities because of flooding.
Tweed New Haven Airport temporarily closed its departures terminal because of local flash flooding and advised passengers with scheduled Sunday departures not to travel to the airport until further notice.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and other state officials urged motorists to stay off flooded roads and warned against attempting to drive through standing water.
Across the state line in New York, heavy rainfall also forced multiple road closures and prompted water rescues in White Plains and other parts of Westchester County as emergency crews responded to flooding throughout the region.
