Large parts of Brooklyn and Queens received about 2 inches of rain in as little as 20 minutes, producing rapid runoff into the sewer system. Water flowed into sewers at up to 6 inches per hour, exceeding a network designed for about 1.75 inches per hour. Floodwaters moved quickly through streets, leaving residents and commuters wading knee-deep and causing incidents such as a person being dragged by the current. Major roads, including the Long Island Expressway, were blocked, and subway services were disrupted as water entered stations. Mud and debris accumulated, with rubbish and litter swept along streets. The storms also brought strong gusts, downed trees and power lines, and left more than 10,000 people without power. Separately, western Europe experienced a heat dome with unusually early May temperatures 10–15°C above average, with France breaking its May record and parts of the southwest expected to reach 37–38°C.
"Large parts of Brooklyn and Queens received about 2in (50mm) of rainfall in as little as 20 minutes. Officials said the deluge caused water to flow into the sewer system at a rate of up to 6in an hour, quickly overwhelming an aged network that was designed to accommodate just 1.75in an hour. Residents and commuters found themselves wading knee-deep through flood water that flowed with dangerous speed in places."
"One video showed a woman alighting from a bus losing her footing and being dragged along by the torrent of water. Several major roads were blocked, including the Long Island Expressway, and subway services were disrupted as water spilled into stations. Large amounts of mud and other debris was left behind; videos showed bags of rubbish being swept down streets along with loose litter."
"The downpours were part of a series of storms affecting New Jersey and New York states, with strong gusts also causing damage and disruption. Several trees and power lines were brought down, and at one point on Wednesday night more than 10,000 people were without power."
"Meanwhile, western Europe is sweltering under a heat dome warm air trapped under a strong area of persistent high pressure. The first major heat event of 2026 has come unusually early: temperatures in May rarely rise above 30C as far north as the UK, France and Germany, large parts of which are experiencing temperatures 10-15C above the climate average. France has already broken its May record of 30.5C, as temperatures have peaked in the low 30s each day since Thursday, and higher is still to come."
Read at www.theguardian.com
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