Lingering Nor’easter Drenches NYC, Flooding Concerns Linger into the Week

Monday morning commuters in Midtown found themselves dodging deep puddles and bracing against biting winds as the nor’easter that swept through the city over the weekend showed little sign of moving on. While Sunday’s overnight gusts have eased, steady rain is expected to continue through at least Tuesday, keeping New Yorkers on alert for flash flooding and transit delays.

The city’s Office of Emergency Management issued a travel advisory early Monday, urging caution on roadways and warning of possible subway disruptions, especially in low-lying stations like Canal Street and Brooklyn’s Carroll Street. By dawn, the Hudson River’s edge at Riverside Park was slick with runoff, and sanitation crews were out in force, clearing storm drains near the West Side Highway.

In neighborhoods like Gowanus and Jamaica, residents stacked sandbags by their stoops after hearing reports of flooded basements late Sunday night. “We’ve had to move everything off the floor, just in case,” said Marcus Lee, a property manager on 134th Avenue, as he checked sump pumps and coordinated with neighbors. The National Weather Service has kept a flood watch in effect for the five boroughs, citing saturated ground and the risk of heavy rain bands redeveloping through tonight.

Despite the soggy start to the week, city officials say the worst appears to have passed. Still, with over two inches of rainfall logged in Central Park since Saturday, schools across Queens and the Bronx reported minor water leaks and delayed bus routes. Forecasters expect conditions to improve by midweek, but warn that autumn’s unpredictable weather pattern could bring further storms before the leaves finish turning.

For now, umbrellas remain the season’s must-have accessory, and New Yorkers—never ones to let a little rain slow them down—are already swapping stories of Saturday night’s wind-whipped walks and the communal hustle to keep the city moving.