More than 200,000 residents in the New England region are without power after heavy rainfall and high winds hit the north-east region on Monday to start off the week before Christmas.
Upwards of 100,000 people in New Hampshire and Massachusetts are experiencing power outages amid heavy rainfall, New England Cable News reported. An additional 50,000 residents of New York state have lost power, according to PowerOutage.us, which tracks power outages nationwide.
Swaths of the east coast are experiencing intense rainfall and high winds after storms that began over the weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, several parts of the region experienced record rainfall, with emergency responders carrying out water rescues amid flooding in several states.
On Monday, some north-east areas are expected to receive up to 6in of rain before the storm travels northward, the New York Times reported.
At least 11 states, from Maine to Maryland, are also under a flood watch, ABC News reported. The New York governor, Kathy Hochul, warned that up to 4in of rain could hit parts of the state, with the risk of potential flooding, according to the Associated Press.
A flood advisory had also been issued for New York City until 10.45am ET, where 1 to 1.5in of rain were forecasted. Intense rain and powerful winds on Monday led to the temporary closure of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island, New York. More than 8,000 city residents were without power as of Monday morning, the local emergency management department reported.
The New York City mayor, Eric Adams, has issued a travel advisory on Monday, encouraging commuters to take mass transit and avoid roads if possible.
Immigrant advocacy groups have also said that intense rainfall is affecting migrants who have been sheltering in New York City’s Floyd Bennet field.
New York organization Immigration Coalition said tents at Floyd Bennet field are “flooding” amid 3in of rain and wind. In a video posted to social media, loud claps of thunder are heard as heavy rain hits against tents where migrants are sheltering.
People’s holiday travel plans have also been challenged by the inclement weather. Nearly 50 flights out of New York City-area airports were cancelled amid the storm, AP reported. Almost 90 flights were also delayed.
The rain is expected to end in New York City by Monday afternoon. But the bout of fitful weather is predicted to linger in New England into the evening, according to reporting from ABC.
