New York City's Extreme Weather Challenge: A Look at the Recent Storm

New York City faced a powerful storm that caused severe flooding, breaking over a century-old rainfall records. Central Park saw its highest rainfall in more than 100 years, with other areas like LaGuardia and Newark airports also setting new records. The storm led to at least two deaths in Brooklyn and Upper Manhattan, as two men were found in flooded basements. The heavy rain and strong winds disrupted transportation, including the city's three major airports, subways, and NJ Transit. The city's infrastructure struggled to handle the intense rainfall. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) acknowledged that climate change has brought extreme weather that the city's systems were not designed to manage. The four most intense storms in NYC's history have occurred in the last four years, with the recent storm dumping 1 inch of rain in just 10 minutes. This rate overwhelmed the sewer system, which can only handle 1. 75 inches per hour. The DEP received over 800 calls about flooding in just two hours. To prepare for storms, crews work to clear the city's 150, 000 catch basins. Four years ago, thousands of catch basins were clogged, but now that number has significantly decreased. The DEP has been working to maximize the efficiency of the existing sewer system. The rainfall records were impressive. Central Park broke its daily record with 1. 83 inches, surpassing the previous record from 1917. LaGuardia Airport saw 2. 09 inches, and Newark Airport recorded 2. 04 inches, both breaking records set in 1955. Other areas, like Islip on Long Island and Bridgeport, Connecticut, also set new records. Some places experienced over 3 inches of rain, with Greenwich, Connecticut, reporting 3. 90 inches. Strong winds accompanied the heavy rain, with peak gusts reaching up to 57 mph in Sea Bright, New Jersey, and 53 mph at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The storm's impact extended beyond rainfall, causing damage and disruptions across the Tri-State Area. Looking ahead, Halloween will see strong winds returning, with gusts ranging from 35-50 mph, posing a threat of downed trees and power lines. Temperatures will be in the mid-50s, but the strong winds will make it feel much colder. For the NYC Marathon, the weather will be more favorable, with brighter skies and temperatures near normal.