A slow-moving storm brought with it torrential rain in parts of the northeastern U.S., resulting in flash floods during the second week of August.
After several days of heavy rain in the northeast region, rescuers had to get people out of waterways, stranded cars and flooded homes.
Five of New Jersey’s 21 counties were placed under a state of emergency, according to Governor Phil Murphy.
“Parts of our state have received nothing less than historic amounts of rain, and some communities received an entire month’s worth in just a few hours.”
Flooding and nickel-sized hail were also reported from the Baltimore area in Maryland, where warnings for flash flooding and thunderstorms were in effect throughout much of the evening of August 13.
FLASH FLOODING: Neighbors say they’ve never seen Herring Run this high before. #MDWX #FlashFlood @FOXBaltimore @Vytasweatherguy pic.twitter.com/pAyDOISmIs
— C.J. Alderson (@CJAldersonFOX45) August 14, 2018
In Pennsylvania, the severe rain delayed public transportation services along major routes in Philadelphia. Around 100 flights from the city’s major airport were cancelled on August 13. Multiple water rescues were also made in southeastern Pennsylvania.
In New York, emergency crews had to evacuate Seneca County residents by boat. According to the sheriff’s office, rescued residents were then taken to a nearby shelter.
Both Pennsylvania and New York have already activated their emergency response centers for the storms that started during the second weekend of the month.
“The weather pattern this summer is one of the most dramatic outbreaks of rain ever to hit Pennsylvania and other states in the region in a non-tropical storm setting,” according to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams.
While the storm’s winds have not been noteworthy, its slow movement allowed it to dump significant amounts of rainfall on the affected areas, causing considerable destruction and widespread interruptions of regular services due to the floods.
As of writing, another slow-moving storm is expected to affect the region in the coming days and will likely worsen the flood experienced by the affected areas. The rainy weather is also estimated to last through the end of the month.
If you’re within the area that will be affected by the deluge, keep an eye out for the latest evacuation announcements from your local authorities. Have an emergency kit nearby that you can take with you at a moment’s notice and prepare your home to minimize the damage caused by the flooding.