Air travel disrupted as New York and New Jersey declare state of emergency
On Thursday, August 1, 2025, the states of New York and New Jersey declared a state of emergency due to flash flood warnings as heavy rain impacted the East Coast, leading to road hazards and significant disruption to air travel, reports 24brussels.
The National Weather Service forecasted heavy to excessive rainfall and severe thunderstorms along the Washington-Philadelphia-New York City corridor later that afternoon and into the night. Certain areas in the southern part of the affected region were anticipated to experience rainfall rates of up to 2 inches (5.08 cm) per hour.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged residents to “stay vigilant, stay informed, and use caution as we expect excessive rainfall with the potential for flash flooding.” New York City Mayor Eric Adams and local officials advised the public to avoid driving and recommended that residents in basement apartments seek higher ground.
Air travel faced substantial disruption as severe storms led to ground stops at major airports in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration. Thousands of flights were canceled or delayed, with average delays around three hours at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Amtrak services between Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware, were also suspended due to severe storms causing high water on the tracks. The company announced efforts to provide estimated delay times, emphasizing potential residual delays once routes became available.
Reports confirmed one fatality linked to the storms; a child died after becoming trapped in rising waters in Mount Airy, Maryland. By Thursday night, flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings for New York City were lifted, but authorities continued to advise against non-essential travel.
Flood watches and severe thunderstorm warnings in other areas were in effect into Friday morning, with forecasts predicting an additional 4 to 6 inches (10.16 to 15.24 cm) of rain in certain sections of the East Coast.
