Intense rain battering the Eastern Seaboard, resulting in scattered flash floods
Heavy Rain and Flooding Hit the East Coast
The East Coast is currently experiencing a period of severe weather, with heavy rain and flooding causing disruptions across several states. The recent formation of a tropical storm off the Southeast/East Coast has added to the concerns, particularly in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
In the early hours of August 2025, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and other local officials urged residents to stay off the roads and move those living in basement apartments to higher locations. This advice came as commuters captured videos of water pouring over a train platform at Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal and pooling on the floor of city buses.
The weather service has warned of possible flooding in these areas due to the storms. Flooding is expected in small creeks and streams, along highways, streets, underpasses, and places with poor drainage. In fact, up to 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of rain is possible in some areas.
Emergency rescues have been necessary in several instances. Motorists trapped in deep water on busy highways from the Philadelphia area to New York City have required assistance, and multiple people have been rescued from flooded vehicles in communities northeast of Baltimore, Maryland. Other commuter rail lines on Long Island and New Jersey have been suspended or severely delayed.
The heavy rainstorms have also caused flight delays and cancellations around major airports in the NYC region. In New York, flash flooding closed sections of major roadways and flooded train stations. Airports in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia have reported numerous flight delays and cancellations into Thursday evening.
The situation is not limited to the urban centers. Flood watches and warnings have been issued across Maryland, prompting officials to preemptively close roads prone to flooding, shutter schools and libraries early, and open emergency shelters. Tornado warnings in New Jersey did not result in any reports of twisters, but more than 14,000 electricity customers were without power as of Thursday evening.
The tropical storm is part of an active Atlantic hurricane season forecasted to produce strong hurricane signals. The hurricane season, which peaks in August, has already seen its share of impacts. In late July 2025, nearly 50 million people from Virginia to Connecticut were placed under flood alerts as multiple rounds of heavy rainstorms hit the East Coast. These storms caused flooding, water rescues in some areas, and widespread travel disruptions, including flight delays.
Localized heavy rainfall has also occurred earlier in July, such as on July 10 in Vermont, producing over 3.5 inches of rain in an hour and causing flash flooding and minor river flooding. This event, while mainly localized to Vermont, illustrates the pattern of slow-moving thunderstorms capable of intense localized flooding expected along the East Coast this season.
Authorities are monitoring these developments closely, issuing flood watches and advisories, and preparing emergency responses, including possible evacuations as the hurricane season intensifies. Travelers can expect continued disruptions, especially around major urban centers like New York City.
Key details: - Late July: Heavy storms cause flooding and travel disruptions from Virginia to Connecticut with 50 million affected by flood alerts[3]. - Early August: Tropical storm off the Southeast coast threatens heavy rain and flooding up the coast including New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland[2][4]. - Local flood events like in Vermont (July 10) demonstrate the intense rain possible even with slow-moving thunderstorms[1]. - Flight delays, travel disruptions, possible evacuations ongoing with flood watches in effect across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast[3][4].
These conditions warrant ongoing vigilance as the hurricane season peaks in August 2025.
- In the midst of the ongoing heavy rain and flooding on the East Coast, there have been reports of accidents on busy highways and flooded vehicles in various communities, necessitating emergency rescues.
- Despite the ongoing general news about crime and justice, the weather situation on the East Coast, highlighted by the recent tropical storm and heavy rainfall, has been dominating discussions, causing significant disruptions in transportation, including flight delays and cancellations.
