Strong Storms Shatter Records on Long Island, Cars Nearly Submerged

Strong Storms Shatter Records on Long Island, Cars Nearly Submerged

A historic storm system flooded cars, turned parking lots into lakes and smashed records on New York's Long Island, where one town got more than a foot of rain in just six hours on Wednesday.

Flash-flood watches were in effect across New England as the dousing chugged east. The National Weather Service described the Long Island flooding as dangerous and life-threatening.

The town of Islip, which had never recorded more than 7 inches of rain in a single day, reported almost 13 inches. The pictures looked like something out of a hurricane.

Long Island was only the latest part of the country to be deluged.

The body of a 100-year-old woman was found in the flooded basement of a house outside Detroit, which got more than 6 inches of rain on Monday — the most in 89 years, according to the mayor.

There was a flash flood emergency in Baltimore, where more than 8 inches of rain fell southeast of the city and where authorities had to close a tunnel on Tuesday, according to NBC affiliate WBAL. In the Southwest, 16 people had to be rescued from street flooding in Phoenix,according to NBC affiliate KPNX. And over the weekend in Nebraska, heavy rain overwhelmed the storm-water system in Kearney, leading to flash floods that swept through a hospital cafeteria.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/strong-storms-shatter-records-long-island-cars-nearly-submerged-n179546

Flooding hits Rhode Island amid heavy rain

August 13, 2014 | Updated: August 13, 2014 11:28am

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Several streets were flooded and cars stalled in deep water as a storm swept through Rhode Island on Wednesday, bringing with it more than 3 inches of rain that was falling up to 1 to 2 inches per hour.

The National Weather Service warned of flash flooding through mid-afternoon in parts of Providence, Kent and Bristol counties. In Providence, some manhole covers were swept off by water that filled the streets. Several roads were closed, including Route 10 near Interstate 95 in Providence, where some cars were stuck in the water.

Forecasters said the main threat was flash flooding in urban areas, especially in low-lying areas or places with poor drainage. They also warned that small streams could flood.

In addition to Providence, flooding was expected in communities including Cranston, Warwick, Barrington and Pawtucket.

The weather service said there was also the potential for flash floods in the rest of the state.

Motorists were urged not to drive on flooded streets.

National Grid said about 500 customers were without power around noon Wednesday, most in Providence and Washington counties.

All high-speed ferry service to Block Island was canceled, as were ferries between the island and Newport and Fall River, Massachusetts.

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Heavy-rain-may-bring-flooding-to-Rhode-Island-5685733.php