Catastrophic flooding hits NYC, NJ, kills 2 in CT as more severe weather threatens region

LONG ISLAND - A slow-moving system that passed through NYC and NJ brought heavy rain on Sunday as catastrophic flooding caused mudslides and washed-out roads across parts of Long Island and Connecticut.

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The region is now working on cleaning up as the flood threat will persist through Monday morning, along with a minor severe weather threat that could bring damaging winds to the same areas. 

Today's weather NYC

The FOX Forecast Center said the region is edging closer to a more tranquil weather pattern, but first, they will have to dodge more rain to start the workweek. 

Storms will not be as abundant as they were over the weekend, but a cold front is expected to move through, bringing more thunderstorms.

"We are seeing a better weather pattern coming in from the west, but that really doesn't get here until overnight," FOX 5 NY's Audrey Punete said. "So it's a very slow moving cold front."

Some of these storms could cause additional flash flooding, especially where there has been so much rain over the weekend. The FOX Forecast Center noted that less than a half-inch of rain in one hour is all that is needed for flash flood concerns to return.

Monday's potential for severe weather is less than Sunday with a level 1 out of 5 risk for the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. 

Flooding on Long Island

Heavy rain began across parts of eastern Long Island shortly after 10 p.m. on Sunday with 1-2 inches per hour rain rates. These storms then regenerated in the same spots across north-central Suffolk County, the FOX Forecast Center said. 

This prompted the second Flash Flood Emergency of the event, which was issued at 1:20 a.m. Monday. As much as 9.40 inches of rain fell in less than 5 hours.

Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro said the light of day Monday revealed a tremendous amount of damage from the storm's prolonged downpour after nearly 10 inches of rain fell in Stony Brook.

The flash floods resulted in mudslides and washed out several roads, causing considerable damage in Stony Brook, where floods were captured on video causing an entire street to collapse.

"We are certain there will be more as we continue to inspect infrastructure across the town," he added.

Losquadro said many state and county roads leading through the town were still impassible Monday afternoon.

"Do not travel unless absolutely necessary and never try to drive through standing water," he warned. "Many road endings across the North Shore have suffered serious damage or collapse as well."

The severe flooding prompted Stony Brook University to cancel student move-in plans scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

"We are still assessing the damage to campus caused by the overnight storms and flooding," Lawrence Zacarese, Vice President for Enterprise Risk Management and Chief Security Officer at Stony Brook University, said Monday in a campus emergency alert. "Please note, move-in plans for today, Monday, August 19, 2024 and tomorrow, Tuesday, August 20, 2024 have been canceled."

The fall semester is still scheduled to begin as planned next Monday, Aug. 26, according to the university.

Flooding in New Jersey 

Flooding in New Jersey caused Amtrak to delay trains between New York City and Philadelphia on Sunday evening. 

Flooding in NYC

The New York Police Department shared photos of water covering a road in Central Park on Sunday evening, and drivers were advised to avoid water-covered streets. Forecasters at the NWS office in New York issued a Flash Flood Emergency for parts of Long Island due to intense rain and rapidly rising water.

Forecasters said between 4 and 6 inches of rain fell overnight into Monday morning, and some areas were expected to receive an additional 2 to 4 inches before the rain moved out.

Flooding in Connecticut

Two people are dead in Connecticut after catastrophic flooding destroyed roads and bridges and trapped terrified residents as rapidly rising water cut off escape routes.

"Yesterday was a pretty devastating day here in Connecticut," Connecticut State Emergency Management Director William Turner said. "There was initially two reported individuals missing in Oxford that were swept away after their vehicle became stranded."

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont later confirmed the body of the second person was recovered on Monday. Both women were Oxford residents and pulled from the Little River, according to officials.

Turner said calls for help were received across southwestern Connecticut as the flooding continued throughout the day and into the evening on Sunday.

"We had quite an extensive rescue operation occurring to rescue those impacted by this extreme flash flooding that was experienced yesterday," he said.

While flooding was reported in communities along the Interstate 95 corridor, like Stamford, many rural communities took the brunt of the devastation.

Radar estimated nearly 16 inches of rain fell with rain rates of 1-2 inches per hour. 

"The heaviest rains really seems to set up from Monroe up into Beacon Falls, and definitely some more rural parts of the state, but away from our major highways like I-95 and I-84" Turner said. "But nonetheless, we still have extensive damage to a lot of state roads and local roads that we’re out there assessing now to determine the impacts and to see what we’ll need to do to get them reopened."

The dangerous situation began to unfold earlier in the day Sunday as heavy precipitation continued to fall over the same areas of western and southern Connecticut for hours.

The National Weather Service issued a rare Flash Flood Emergency for the area as the deluge continued, and many towns in the region reported blockbuster rainfall totals.

More than a foot of rain fell in Sandy Hook, which is part of Newtown, since Sunday morning.

Newtown received just over 10 inches of rain on Sunday, but that doesn't count the rain that fell Sunday afternoon and evening, so the total may rise.

Shelton and Monroe received just under 10 inches of rain, while Middlebury received just over 9.5 inches.

Coastal flood advisory

Coastal flood advisories remain in effect for multiple areas. Click HERE for more information.

NYC weather radar

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FOX Weather helped contribute to this report.