Up To 4 Inches Of Rain Could Hit NYC Saturday, Officials Warn

NEW YORK CITY — It's heavy rainy déjà vu all over again for New York City.

Up to 4 inches of rain could hit parts of New York City starting Saturday, as Tropical Storm Philippe flies by, city officials warned.

City officials have activated emergency plans for heavy rainfall expected to begin early Saturday and continue through the day, said Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright during a Friday briefing.

A flood watch is in effect for the city from Saturday at 2 a.m. and through the evening, according to the National Weather Service.

"We are encouraging New Yorkers to plan ahead, as the ground is still saturated from last week's heavy rain, which could result in potentially significant flooding and travel disruptions in typical flood-prone areas," Wright said.

City Hall's all-hands-on-deck briefing Friday for potential flooding contrasted with Mayor Eric Adams' slow, much-criticized public response to heavy rainfall that inundated the city just a week before.

Adams didn't physically show up for the briefing, as he is on a trip to Central and South America.

His deputy mayors and commissioners took the reins Friday, with Wright warning of 2 inches of rain citywide, with more in isolated spots.

The flood watch warned that heavy rain could rapidly worsen conditions.

"Rainfall rates to 1 to 2 inches per hour are possible," the watch states. "If and where the heaviest rainfall rates develop the flooding could be locally significant, causing disruption to transportation, flooding of basements, first floor residences and businesses, and underground infrastructure, and pose an elevated threat to life."

New Yorkers in basement apartments or flood-prone areas should be prepared to move to a higher area, Wright said.

"Since this happening overnight, you might be asleep so you should be preparing now," she said.

City dwellers should use public transportation and use major streets and highways if possible, Wright said.

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