Flash Flood Warning Issued For Portions Of Nassau County

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Portions of Nassau County are under a flash flood warning as storms moved across the region and Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for Long Island counties.

Shortly after 3:45 p.m., radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the county. Between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of rain have already fallen, according to the National Weather Service, and the expected rainfall rate is 1 to 2 inches in an hour.

Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly, the NWS said.

The flash flood warning is in effect until 5:15 p.m. for the following cities: Levittown, Freeport, Plainview, Garden City, Massapequa, Lynbrook, Syosset, Westbury, Farmingdale, Hempstead, Hicksville, Oceanside, Baldwin, Wantagh, Woodbury, Brookville, East Meadow, Uniondale, Rockville Centre and Merrick.

Forecasters said they anticipate the heavy rainfall could cause flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses, as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

"Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads," the NWS said. "Most flood deaths occur in vehicles."

On Thursday, showers and thunderstorms were expected to drop a widespread 1.5 to 3 inches of rain across the region, with localized amounts up to 5 inches. Rainfall rates could exceed more than 2 inches per hour, especially for areas south.

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A flood watch remains in effect for Nassau and Suffolk counties until Friday morning.

Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for parts of New York, including Nassau and Suffolk counties.

According to the governor's order, road and rail travel will likely be impacted during the Thursday evening commute, and employers in the affected areas were recommended to release employees early to avoid long delays and ensure safe travel home.

“I am urging all New Yorkers to stay vigilant, stay informed and use caution as we expect excessive rainfall with the potential for flash flooding,” Hochul said. “State agencies are on standby for heavy downpours and localized flooding and will be monitoring the situation in real-time to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers in the path of the storm.”

New Yorkers were urged to sign up to receive real-time weather and emergency alerts on their phones by texting their county or borough name to 333111.

Rain chances continue through the overnight hours, with showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Friday. Showers and thunderstorms are also possible after 5 a.m.