A flash flood emergency was issued by the National Weather Service for the city of New York and Westchester County until 11:30 in the evening tonight, Wednesday, September 1, 2021 due to the torrential rainfall left by the remnants of what was once Hurricane Ida.
Breaking News: First-Ever Flash Flood Emergency Issued For New York City
The reply for the following message posted on Twitter by timinbklyn of “I’ve never seen one of these in NYC before.” was by the National Weather Service when this message was posted to its official Twitter account: “This is the first time we’ve ever had to issue one.”
This is the first time we've ever had to issue one.
— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) September 2, 2021
People who are in the affected area are instructed to seek higher ground and move there immediately — as well as to avoid walking or driving through flood waters — as this weather situation is considered to be life-threatening.
According to this message from the official Twitter account of the National Weather Service, a “Flash Flood Emergency is issued for exceedingly rare situations when a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from a flash flood is happening or will happen soon.”
A Flash Flood Emergency is issued for exceedingly rare situations when a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from a flash flood is happening or will happen soon. pic.twitter.com/ntn0PwRipN
— National Weather Service (@NWS) September 2, 2021
Portions of Newark International Airport were flooded — as well as many other areas around the greater metropolitan area of New York — due to as much as five inches of rain within one hour.
Not what the baggage room at Newark Liberty International Airport is supposed to look like. Flooding right now as Ida’s remnants move through the northeast. pic.twitter.com/fu70elSrhy
— Gio Benitez (@GioBenitez) September 2, 2021
At 10:41 in the evening Eastern Daylight Time, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued this storm advisory at its official Twitter account pertaining to subway service: “Train service may be extremely limited tonight because of heavy rainfall and flooding across the region. We strongly recommend you avoid traveling at this time, if you can.”
Train service may be extremely limited tonight because of heavy rainfall and flooding across the region.
We strongly recommend you avoid traveling at this time, if you can.
Check https://t.co/8rwbuwle0p before you travel. pic.twitter.com/K1m2yglEXk
— MTA. Wear a Mask. Stop the Spread. (@MTA) September 2, 2021
A state of emergency was declared by Bill de Blasio — who is the current mayor of the city of New York — at his official Twitter account.
Please stay off the streets tonight and let our first responders and emergency services get their work done.
If you’re thinking of going outside, don’t. Stay off the subways. Stay off the roads. Don’t drive into these heavy waters.
Stay inside.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) September 2, 2021
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If you are traveling to or from the northeastern United States over the next couple of days or so, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to this tropical weather system which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.
If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary.
Here are eight airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this tropical weather system:
- American Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- 16 airports in six states for Tuesday, August 31, 2021 through Friday, September 3, 2021; and Tuesday, September 7, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Twelve airports in five states for Sunday, August 29, 2021 through Friday, September 3, 2021; and Tuesday, September 7, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for nine cities in three states for Sunday, August 29, 2021 through Friday, September 3, 2021; and Tuesday, September 7, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Ten airports in five states for Tuesday, August 31, 2021 through Friday, September 3, 2021; and Friday, September 3, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- 14 airports in four states for Sunday, August 29, 2021 through Friday, September 3, 2021; and Friday, September 10, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Baltimore, Washington-Dulles, and Washington-National for Wednesday, September 1, 2021; and Wednesday, September 15, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Atlanta and Nashville for Tuesday, August 31, 2021; and Tuesday, September 14, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- New Orleans for Sunday, August 29, 2021 through Sunday, September 5, 2021; and Sunday, September 19, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Jackson for Sunday, August 29, 2021 through Friday, September 3, 2021; and Friday, September 17, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Pensacola for Sunday, August 29, 2021 through Tuesday, August 31, 2021; and Tuesday, September 14, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- JetBlue Airways has issued a travel alert for New Orleans for Sunday, August 29, 2021 through Friday, September 3, 2021; and Friday, September 10, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Frontier Airlines has issued a travel alert for New Orleans for Friday, August 27, 2021 through Wednesday, September 1, 2021; and Friday, September 8, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Spirit Airlines has issued a travel alert for New Orleans for Sunday, August 29, 2021 through Thursday, September 2, 2021; and Wednesday, September 8, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Sun Country Airlines has issued travel alerts for Gulfport and New Orleans for Saturday, August 28, 2021 through Thursday, September 2, 2021; and Thursday, September 9, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
Final Boarding Call
Be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely.
I have lived in New York for years; and I do not ever recall a weather situation such as this. The last time the greater metropolitan area of New York had to deal with a weather situation of this magnitude was during what is now known as Superstorm Sandy.
My thoughts are with anyone who is being adversely affected by the remnants of what was Hurricane Ida.
Source: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce of the United States.
