New York City registered a staggering 3.6 inches of rainfall, the highest ever recorded during a single storm in Central Park. This rainfall caused extensive disruption across the city, with commuters trapped in vehicles, flight cancellations and delays at airports, and widespread flooding of roads.
In a particularly alarming incident, an unidentified couple had to be rescued by the brave firefighters of the Fire Department, New York (FDNY) when their black Mercedes Benz got caught under an overpass on the westbound 65th Street Central Park Traverse. The photos obtained highlight the dire situation as firefighters Eric Roslund, John O’Connor, Darren Harsch, and Kody Schrum were seen aiding an elderly man across a flooded sidewalk.
The torrential downpour was not just limited to the roads. John F. Kennedy Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, witnessed a travel nightmare with as many as 487 flights delayed and 31 canceled, causing immense inconvenience to fliers.
The deluge did not spare the city’s straphangers either. A video captured riders using wooden crates to cross a flooded train station at the 2nd Avenue F stop at the corner of East Houston and Allen Street. The video shows a man skillfully jumping across both crates and making his way to his train, earning applause from fellow riders.
This March is also on course to become one of the wettest on record, with 8.24 inches of rainfall already recorded in Central Park, and with a week still to go.
According to Fox New meteorologist Jordan Overton, the tri-state area is expected to dry out overnight with a breezy but sunny day expected in the afternoon. The “strong coastal storm” was spread out, reducing the intensity of the flooding in some areas of the city.
As the storm system began to exit the region, the city started to limp back to normalcy. However, the extent of the damage caused by the record-breaking rainfall is yet to be fully assessed.
While the city grappled with the havoc caused by the rainfall, it also witnessed examples of bravery and resilience. From FDNY firefighters to regular citizens, many stepped up to help those in need, embodying the spirit of New York City.
As the city recovers from this record-breaking rainfall, it also serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of weather patterns and the importance of being prepared for such extreme rainfall.
