Flood Warnings For The Hudson Valley, Crisis In Orange County

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The National Weather Service issued a flood warning at 9:09 p.m. Sunday for Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester and then at 9:22 issued a flash flood warning for southern Westchester County. There is also a flood watch for Dutchess and Ulster counties.

At 10 p.m. New York State Police advised motorists to avoid The Palisades Interstate Parkway, Long Mountain Circle, Route 6, The Bear Mountain Bridge, and Highland Falls, NY (Orange and Rockland counties) due to major flooding.

"Currently The William J. Moreau Popolopen Bridge in Highland Falls is not passable. Troopers have assisted dozens of motorists out of the area and are currently doing a check of all remaining vehicles still stranded in the area to ensure that there is no one stranded or left behind," state police said.

The state Office of Fire Prevention and Control deployed four Swift Water Rescue teams and State Parks deployed an additional team on Sunday to the Mid-Hudson Region to assist with flood rescue efforts. DHSES field staff are also embedded at the Orange County Emergency Operations Center to facilitate local requests for assistance.

"I'm issuing a State of Emergency in Orange County, which has experienced life-threatening conditions due to flash flooding," Gov. Kathy Hochul said. "We are approaching a critical point in this weather event, and New Yorkers must remain vigilant. Remember: avoid flooded roads, monitor your local forecasts and have an evacuation plan ready if you're in a danger zone."

As of Sunday evening, there were more than 12,000 power outages reported in Putnam, Dutchess, Albany, Ulster and Orange counties, state officials said.

As of 8 p.m., road closures included:

• Palisades Interstate Parkway and U.S. Route 9W in Rockland County
• U.S. Route 6 in Westchester County
• U.S. Route 9W, State Route 218, State Route 293, State Route 17M, and State Route 32 in Orange County
• State Route 403 and State Route 301 in Putnam County
• State Route 190 in Clinton County

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus declared a state of emergency and asked residents to stay home. At 5:30 p.m. he was in Highland Falls after a woman died there.

"If you do not need to be on the road, stay off the road," he said on Facebook.

SEE: 1 Woman Dies Trying To Evacuate Her Home During Flash Flood

Between 5 and 8 inches of rain have fallen in parts of Orange, Putnam, Rockland and northern Westchester, the NWS said at 9 p.m.

A flash flood warning had been issued for those counties at 5 p.m. with rain falling at 1-2 inches per hour. "Seek higher ground now," the NWS said.

Water rescues were numerous, according to fire department reports. At one point, emergency responders were called to the Long Mountain Traffic Circle to save people in about 30 cars.

This body-cam video was taken on Seven Lakes Drive, a short distance southwest of Long Mountain Traffic Circle in Orange County, a state police spokesman told Patch. "There is swift moving water traversing perpendicularly across the roadway, at greatest depth, approximately 3ft. There are roughly 10 or so cars pinned in a position between two areas of flooding, & another batch of roughly 20 or so cars pinned by flooding further ahead. Large slabs of roadway are crumbled & missing. Multiple cars are seen swept into the woods by the moving water & several are seen half-buried in holes of collapsed road. The cars & their occupants are perilously close to the rising water."

Streams continue to rise due to excess runoff from earlier rainfall. The Mahwah River at Suffern has also reached minor flooding, the NWS said.

Numerous roads were closed due to flooding and many had washed-out sections.

Doppler radar indicated more heavy rain due to thunderstorms. Flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly there, the NWS said.

Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible.

Some locations that will experience flooding include New City, Newburgh, Ossining, Peekskill, Monsey, Nanuet, Haverstraw, Suffern, Mahopac, Monroe, Nyack, West Point, Sloatsburg, Cold Spring, New Windsor, Pearl River, Orangeburg, Greenwood Lake, Pomona and Harriman. The flood warning is in effect until 12:15 a.m. Monday.

With more thunderstorms producing heavy rain, flash flooding is ongoing in southern Westchester, the NWS said. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen there. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area.

In Dutchess and Ulster counties, the NWS predicted minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin as of 9:22 p.m. Between 2 and 4 inches of rain have fallen since Sunday morning. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1.5 inches are expected

Some locations that will experience flooding include Beacon, Fishkill, Myers Corner, Hopewell Junction, Glenham, Beacon Hills, Groveville, Brinckerhoff, Castle Point, Hughsonville, Wiccopee, Chelsea, Swartoutville, Brockway, Lomala and Dutchess Junction.

The flood watch for Dutchess and Ulster is in effect until Tuesday.

The MTA said the storms in Northern Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties left behind high water, trees, boulders and other debris, and sections of Metro-North's Hudson Line tracks north of Croton-Harmon have become impassable.

As a result, Metro-North Railroad service between Croton-Harmon and Poughkeepsie has been suspended, and is expected to remain unavailable at least through the day Monday.

Crews will be working through the night to evaluate damage and clear tracks of fallen trees, mud, boulders, and water that in places has risen above running rails. Some areas are being inspected for possible washout conditions to ensure the integrity of the railroad right of way.

With additional severe weather expected overnight, clearing and required repairs may be delayed, however service will be restored as soon as safe operation is possible.

Customers normally riding to or from the affected stations are encouraged to work from home Monday where that is an option, board Hudson Line service at Croton-Harmon, or take Harlem Line service at Southeast, Croton Falls and other stations along that line.

Monday's forecast includes more thunderstorms for the Hudson, Valley Capital Region, Central New York, Long Island, Mohawk Valley, New York City, North Country, and Southern Tier Regions, and rain showers forecast for the Finger Lakes Region.

Excessive rainfall caused by slow-moving thunderstorms is likely to continue causing flash flooding and minor to isolated moderate river flooding Sunday night into Monday, state officials said. Most of the eastern portion of the state remains under a moderate risk for excessive rainfall tonight and tomorrow. Additional rainfall amounts between 2 to 4 inches is likely, with locally higher amounts up to six inches overnight and Monday. A Flood Watch remains in effect for most of the state.

Editor's Note: The captions in the photographs from New York State police have been revised.