Two fatalities were reported in New York City on Thursday after heavy rainfall caused lower-level flooding across the city, authorities said.In the first incident, firefighters responded around 4:25 p.m. to a call about a person trapped in a flooded basement in the East Flatbush neighborhood. The cause of death has not yet been determined. The second death involved a 43-year-old man found unresponsive in a flooded boiler room in Washington Heights, Manhattan, around 4:44 p.m., police reported. The identities of both victims have not been released.
A man at Canal who sometimes asks for change is currently scooping up all the water flooding. This station has workers and police everyday but today. And an old man just slipped down the stairs smh #thisisnewyork #nyc #mta pic.twitter.com/F22R8T4Mpc
— BeRevolutionary🍉 (@energyElle) October 30, 2025
Flash Flood Warning in Effect
These deaths occurred while a flash flood warning was active for Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and parts of Manhattan. The National Weather Service said a strong frontal system caused the storms that dumped heavy rain over the region. By around 3:30 p.m., 1 to 2 inches of rain had already fallen, with rates expected to reach 1 to 1¼ inches per hour, according to the agency.
Flooding Disrupts Traffic and Communities
Floodwaters forced the closure of the Long Island Expressway in both directions in Queens, as well as the westbound lanes of the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn recorded 2.79 inches of rainfall, Midtown Manhattan saw just over 2 inches, Central Park recorded 1.85 inches, and LaGuardia Airport received 2.09 inches. Water levels rose above car tires in parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, stranding some vehicles. In Riverdale, Bronx, floodwaters reached the bottom of car doors, the weather service said.
Wind Advisory Issued
The National Weather Service also issued a wind advisory for New York City through Friday midnight. Winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts near 40 mph were expected, potentially causing tree limbs to fall and displacing Halloween decorations and other unsecured items.
