Shortly after midnight Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for parts of Nassau and Suffolk that was in effect until 3:15 a.m. Monday.
The weather service warned of “torrential rains” continuing across central and eastern Long Island, advised against driving on flooded roads and said several water rescue operations were underway in Nesconset, Ronkonkoma, Smithtown and St. James.
Authorities in northern Nassau alerted drivers on affected roads. In Upper Brookville, Wolver Hollow Road was closed in both directions between Piping Rock Road and Weatherlow Lane due to flooding.
Port Washington Police said Harbor Road at Mill Pond was impassable due to flooding.
According to Nassau County police, N. Broadway at Jericho Turnpike in Jericho was closed due to flooding. Back Road in Greenvale between Glen Cove Avenue and Glen Cove Road was also closed for a time, but was reopened shortly after 11 p.m., according to police.
In Suffolk, police said they responded to reports of vehicles stuck in the water on New York Avenue in Huntington.
The conditions also affected flights and local airports, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking company.
Arriving flights at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport were delayed an average of about 40 minutes as of 11:13 p.m. Sunday. Departing flights at both airports were delayed for longer periods, averaging more than two hours.
According to the flight tracking site, all incoming flights should be held until midnight.
In addition, strong rip currents off the beaches of Nassau and Suffolk – byproducts of Hurricane Ernesto, which raged far out to sea – led to warnings for swimmers to stay out of the water until Monday evening.
The National Weather Service also warned that a full moon on Monday, along with a swell from Ernesto this week, could raise water levels and cause minor flooding in the back bays of western Long Island Sound.
Amtrak said Sunday evening that service was suspended after rain caused flooding on the tracks between Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station and Penn Station in Manhattan.
In the meantime, the weather may do its part to deter beachgoers from jumping into the sea.
Following heavy rainfall on Sunday, there is a possibility of showers and thunderstorms on Monday before 11am and throughout the evening.
Weather service satellite maps showed Ernesto, which weakened to a tropical storm Saturday before re-strengthening into a hurricane Sunday, skirting the East Coast on Sunday. But surf rip current warnings were in effect along the entire coastline on Nassau and Suffolk County beaches on Sunday.
“Life-threatening rip currents are a threat to anyone entering the surf zone,” said a warning from the National Weather Service. “Anyone visiting the beaches should stay away from the surf. Rips can carry even the best swimmers away from shore and into deeper water.”
The surf warning for Long Island remains in effect until Monday evening.
The maximum temperature on Monday will be just over 27 degrees. For the rest of the week, the weather looks clear and seasonal.
With AP
