New York battles severe flash floods as thunderstorm wreaks havoc on subway and airports

Storm and flash flood alerts have been sounded across New York City and the broader northeast, as sudden torrential rain has led to rapidly rising water levels in the region.

Whole streets are already under water due to the slow-moving thunderstorm, with areas west of the Hudson River experiencing some of the most frequent flash floods. The National Weather Service predicts up to five inches of rain to drench the region within hours, with New York City bearing the brunt of the downpour until around midnight.

Footage from the city's underground system shows murky floodwater cascading onto platforms and, in some instances, through the subway carriages themselves, causing panic among New Yorkers trying to avoid the inundation.

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Ground stops have also been implemented at major transport hubs like JFK and La Guardia, resulting in lengthy queues snaking around the airports with planes sitting on the tarmac for over six hours.

The flooding has also severely impacted parts of the wider state, with the Bronx River Parkway in White Plains completely submerged, along with several vehicles. These distressing scenes of more communities underwater and 80 million people on flood alert come amidst raging wildfires in other parts of the country, including a blaze ripping through the Grand Canyon.

In Rockland County, New York state, NBC reports that a woman required rescue from her motor after sudden deluges left her stranded on Van Orden Avenue in Spring Valley. Neighbouring roads witnessed floodwaters reaching two feet as the afternoon torrents persisted well into the evening.

The National Weather Service has issued warnings that "life-threatening flooding" is probable across sections of New Jersey, with western Union County anticipated to bear the brunt of the deluge.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has announced a State of Emergency following the abrupt flash flooding, which has delivered "high levels of rainfall" throughout the state. He implored locals: "Please stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Stay safe, New Jersey."

The abrupt deluges, which have triggered floods and thunderstorms stretching from the Ohio Valley to the Atlantic Coast, stem from a sluggish weather pattern intensified by the "presence of unusually hot and humid air," The New York Times reports.

Joseph Wegman, a forecaster at the Weather Prediction Center, explained: "The concern is one storm will follow another, after another, and multiple rounds over areas that can't handle that much rain, all falling in a short amount of time."

Precipitation across New York City is anticipated to persist for several hours until midnight on Monday, with the fiercest conditions battering the region between 7pm and 9pm. The weather front is forecast to drift southward overnight, with North Carolina next in its path.