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New York City was pummeled with heavy rain and thunderstorms, leaving stranded drivers forced to seek refuge atop their cars amid violent flash flooding.

Wild footage showed commuters being swept off their feet and cars being overwhelmed as the deluge of rain and 60-mph winds battered the city late Wednesday.

Storm warnings were in place across New York City — but Queens felt the brunt of the tempest with 2.57 inches reported in Bellerose, according to Fox Weather meteorologist Christopher Tate.


  A bus tries to navigate flash floods in New York City. Charlton from Passengers United via Storyful A bus tries to navigate flash floods in New York City. Charlton from Passengers United via Storyful

Several subway services were also disrupted, further compounding travelers’ woes. 

Commuters’ trips home were thrown into chaos, with the I-495 in Fresh Meadows, the Grand Central Parkway eastbound lanes, and the Cross-Island Expressway in Bellerose were all closed. 

It was “some of the worst flooding I have seen,” said Queens Village native Charlton D’Souza, founder of nonprofit organization Passengers United, who filmed from inside his chaotic bus ride home.

Drivers stranded on the Jackie Robinson Parkway were forced to clamber onto the roof of their cars.

Video showed a good Samaritan wading through the floodwaters on the Jackie Robinson Parkway to rescue one stranded driver.

Cops were forced to seal off an underpass near 78th Street when two cars were trapped in several feet of water, according to CBS.

“It was violent, and it was very, very fast,” Christina Moloon told the outlet, describing the water’s ferocity.


  A lightning bolt is captured above the New York City skyline. Debora Domass via Storyful A lightning bolt is captured above the New York City skyline. Debora Domass via Storyful

New Yorkers resorted to standing on bus shelter benches – just to avoid being drenched by the storm – while others used brushes to guide floodwater toward the drains, to no avail.

Scenes looked biblical in Hillside, Jamaica, Queens — with one X user saying the floods hit within a “span of 25 minutes.”

Trees from Staten Island to Brooklyn were taken down by the storms, leaving residents scrambling to clear debris.


  The severe storms damaged highways. CBS News The severe storms damaged highways. CBS News

  Trees were downed as winds up to 60 mph ripped through the city. CBS News Trees were downed as winds up to 60 mph ripped through the city. CBS News

A transporter along the New Jersey coastline, across from Brooklyn Harbor, exploded, and wires were brought down.

The deluge sent temperatures plunging.

The mercury dropped by 19 degrees in just 35 minutes at Newark – from 91 at 6:20 p.m., to 72 degrees at 6:55 p.m., Fox Weather said.


  Broken trees and debris strewn across a Brooklyn street. Igor Rudenko via Storyful Broken trees and debris strewn across a Brooklyn street. Igor Rudenko via Storyful

  People help a trapped motorist on the Jackie Robinson Parkway on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. @amendandrevise People help a trapped motorist on the Jackie Robinson Parkway on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. @amendandrevise

There was a 23-degree drop at LaGuardia in just over two hours from 93 to 70. 

Temperatures at JFK dropped before the rain arrived due to mid-afternoon winds.

The mercury will continue to drop heading into the Memorial Day weekend — with forecasters warning Sunday isn’t set to be a day for the beach.

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