NYC hit with storms, flash floods, braces for gusts, hail, possible tornado

Jessica Schladebeck and Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News on Jul 18, 2026

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NEW YORK — After days of smoky skies and heavy heat, New York on Saturday was hit with “pea-sized hail” and flash flooding that saw numerous drivers swamped and trapped across the boroughs as severe weather hit the city.

New York City Emergency Management urged New Yorkers to stay inside as strong thunderstorms, possibly with quarter-inch-sized hail, were forecast to plague parts of Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island and Queens.

“Thunderstorms are expected to bring damaging winds strong enough to down trees and power lines, along with heavy rainfall that could cause flash flooding,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on X late Friday.

Similarly, NYCEM warned, “The main threat with the strongest storms is damaging wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph,” adding, “An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.”

As the thunderstorms swept through the city, the entrance to the Roosevelt Ave.-Jackson Heights subway station was inundated with heavy rain, sending water pouring into the station, forcing commuters to navigate flooded walkways, according to ABC 7.

Mamdani further warned that the storms could develop with “little warning” and urged residents to immediately head indoors should one suddenly strike. He also encouraged residents to avoid travel.

“I remind everyone to take this weather seriously: Take precautions, know what to do if a storm reaches your area,” Gov. Kathy Hochul added, “and don’t forget to check on friends and family members who might need assistance.”

The severe weather left drivers stranded on highways in Queens and streets in a number of different neighborhoods flooded.

The rainfall began late Saturday morning, continuing on and off throughout the day. The storms were expected to be at their most severe between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., the National Weather Service said.

The National Weather Service placed the city under a flood watch from 10 a.m. Saturday till 2 a.m. Sunday, with rainfall totals expected to be around 1 to 1.5 inches, with 2 to 4 inches possible in some areas.

The city has been under an Air Quality Alert since Wednesday due to Canadian wildfires. The haze was expected to hang around for part of Saturday — but the good news is that the rain should help clear out the smoke over much of the tristate area.

“Yes, the rain should likely finally rinse the smoke out of the sky,” NYCEM said on X. “No, it could not do so gently.”