Two Killed As Floods Sweep New Jersey Roads/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Intense storms brought deadly flooding to New Jersey, killing two people whose vehicle was swept away in Plainfield. Widespread rainfall caused subway shutdowns in New York City, flight cancellations, and road closures across the Northeast. Officials warn high storm patterns may persist in coming days.
Northeast Flooding Quick Looks
- Two killed in Plainfield, NJ, after car swept away
- Storms flood streets, subways across Northeast Monday night
- Manhattan subway stations inundated with dramatic water surges
- NJ Governor Phil Murphy urges residents to stay alert
- Over 150 flights canceled at Newark Liberty Airport
- North Plainfield home catches fire and collapses after evacuation
- Flash flood warnings expire but storms may continue
- MTA restores subway, commuter rail service after overnight repairs
Deep Look
Two Dead in New Jersey After Torrential Flooding Engulfs Northeast, Disrupting Travel and Transit
NEW YORK (AP) — A deadly band of storms swept across the Northeast on Monday night, unleashing powerful rains that submerged streets, overwhelmed transit systems, and claimed two lives in New Jersey when floodwaters carried away a vehicle.
Authorities confirmed Tuesday that two people were killed in Plainfield, New Jersey, a city still reeling from earlier storm-related fatalities earlier this month. Governor Phil Murphy toured storm damage in Berkeley Heights and urged residents across the region to remain vigilant as extreme weather continues.
“We’re not unique, but we’re in one of these sort of high humidity, high temperature, high storm intensity patterns right now,” Murphy said. “Everybody needs to stay alert.”
Officials have not released the identities of the latest victims, pending notification of families.
Scenes of Chaos Across the Northeast
The deluge battered the region from late Monday into early Tuesday, causing widespread flash flooding. Videos posted on social media captured dramatic scenes across New York City, including torrents of water rushing into a Manhattan subway station. Footage showed commuters trapped inside trains watching water pour over the platforms, while some passengers climbed onto seats to avoid rising water on the floor.
Janno Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), said the city’s aging sewer system was simply overwhelmed by the volume of rain, backing up into subway tunnels and stations.
“What happened last night is something that is, you know, a reality in our system,” Lieber told ABC 7 in New York. “We’ve been working with the city of New York to try to get them to increase the capacity of the system at these key locations.”
In some cases, the sheer pressure of floodwaters triggered dramatic eruptions, with manhole covers blowing off the streets and geysers shooting into the air.
Transit Systems Struggle to Recover
Despite the chaos, transit authorities worked overnight to restore service. Lieber confirmed that as of Tuesday morning, full subway service had resumed, along with Long Island Railroad and Metro North commuter lines. Hundreds of workers labored through the night to clear debris and repair water damage.
“We’re proud of the crews who responded so quickly,” Lieber said. “It’s a testament to how prepared we’ve become for these sudden weather events.”
Air Travel Disrupted
The storms also wreaked havoc at airports across the region. Newark Liberty International Airport saw 159 flight cancellations Tuesday, according to FlightAware data, as airlines scrambled to adjust schedules. Additional delays and cancellations were reported at JFK and LaGuardia airports, stranding passengers and causing ripple effects nationwide.
Some roadways remained closed Tuesday, particularly in New Jersey, where flooded streets and fallen debris made driving hazardous.
Property Damage in New Jersey
In North Plainfield, New Jersey, residents faced more than just rising waters. Authorities reported that a house in a flooded neighborhood caught fire and collapsed, possibly due to an explosion. Fortunately, the family living inside had already evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
“It’s a miracle no one was inside when it happened,” a local fire official said.
Climate Patterns Raise Concerns
This latest round of storms underscores a troubling pattern of increasingly frequent and intense weather events across the Northeast. Meteorologists attribute the conditions to a combination of high humidity, elevated ocean temperatures, and persistent atmospheric instability.
While most flash flood watches and warnings expired by midday Tuesday, forecasts suggest the region could remain vulnerable to further storms in the coming days.
Governor Murphy stressed the importance of staying prepared. “These storms are coming faster, with more intensity than ever before,” he said. “We can’t take anything for granted.”
A Community Braces for More Rain
In the aftermath, communities from New Jersey to New York continue to assess damage and brace for potential follow-up storms. Emergency services remain on high alert, and residents are urged to monitor forecasts and exercise caution on flooded roads and transit systems.
As cleanup efforts begin, the scenes of submerged cars in Rahway and surging waters in Manhattan remain stark reminders of the Northeast’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather.
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