NYC streets almost turned to rivers after being hit by heavy storms

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Key points

• While parts of Long Island saw 2.87 inches of rain thanks to the deluge, Pix11 documented, scores of commuters were snarled in Queens and Brooklyn on Thursday evening.
• A tornado watch was additionally in place for more than 15 million residents, affecting Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Virginia.
• The Long Island Expressway was closed in both directions at Francis Lewis Boulevard, NYCEM made public just before 7: 30 p.m.
• A level 3/4 flash flood risk was issued for central and northern New Jersey and New York City for Thursday afternoon.
• While floodwaters in Brooklyn looked ferocious, other videos indicated one driver desperately trying to push their gray stalled Mercedes on 188th Street.

Wild images show how streets throughout New York City were almost turned into gushing rivers as parts of the Empire State were pummeled by heavy rain.

Rows of cars were backed up on the Long Island Expressway Thursday night and FDNY officers were up to their ankles in water as they waded throughout the freeway.

In practice, the Long Island Expressway was closed in both directions at Francis Lewis Boulevard, NYCEM made public just before 7: 30 p.m. Thursday night. Drivers were pressed to consider alternative routes.

Some even clambered onto the roof of their cars just so their feet would be kept dry.

Drains in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn were overwhelmed by the intense deluge that came down in a matter of minutes.

Meanwhile in New Jersey, one stranded driver in Newark had to be dragged to safety on a life raft, video seen by Freedom News demonstrates.

Others were up to their knees in floodwater as they tentatively created their way to a nearby tree to clutch onto.

Drivers were cautioned to expect the deluge. A level 3/4 flash flood risk was issued for central and northern New Jersey and New York City for Thursday afternoon.

Notably, a tornado watch was additionally in place for more than 15 million residents, affecting Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Virginia.

Delays affected commuters on the A, C, and E subway services early Friday but these have now been resolved.

Taken together, the developments around NYC streets almost turned to rivers after being hit by heavy storms point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.