NYCEM Issues Travel Advisory Ahead of Saturday Thunderstorms and Potential Localized Flooding

July 17, 2026

#27-26

NYCEM ISSUES WEATHER ALERT AHEAD OF SATURDAY THUNDERSTORMS AND POTENTIAL LOCALIZED FLOODING

NEW YORKERS URGED TO PREPARE THUNDERSTORMS, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOCALIZED FLOODING SATURDAY

NEW YORK - The New York City Emergency Management Department (NYCEM) is advising New Yorkers to prepare for severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and localized flash flooding on Saturday, July 18. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Flood Watch for New York City from 10 a.m. Saturday through early morning Sunday as a storm system is expected to bring periods of heavy rain beginning late Saturday morning. The strongest storms and heaviest rain are anticipated Saturday afternoon into the early evening, with most activity forecast to end around 9 p.m. The city is also under slight risk for excessive rainfall and severe thunderstorms, and NYCEM has activated the City's Flash Flood Emergency Plan as a precaution. Conditions are expected to improve Sunday as the system moves east.

Multiple rounds of showers and embedded thunderstorms are forecast to produce 1 to 1.5 inches of rainfall across the city on Saturday, with isolated locations receiving 2 to 4 inches where storms repeat over the same areas. Brief rainfall rates of 1.5 to 2 inches per hour are possible in stronger thunderstorms, which could overwhelm drainage systems and lead to scattered flash flooding, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Localized flash flooding may impact roadways, underpasses, highways, and areas with poor drainage.

The main threat with the strongest storms is damaging wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph, capable of downing tree limbs and blowing around unsecured outdoor objects. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Stay informed by checking the forecast and signing up for emergency alerts at nyc.gov/notifynyc.

"City workers are preparing our city for tomorrow's storms by clearing catch basins, staffing up emergency response teams, and placing our downed-tree task force on standby, and New Yorkers should take time to prepare too," said NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. "Plan for travel delays and exercise caution while moving about the city. If the rain picks up, winds strengthen, or you hear thunder, go inside and wait out the dangerous conditions. Check on your neighbors, especially New Yorkers living in basement apartments, to be sure they're taking the weather seriously. Stay safe and remember that information is everything: sign up for emergency alerts by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692."

"Saturday's storms will be fast-moving, but the strongest ones can produce damaging winds and intense downpours with little warning," said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell. "As we've seen in recent storms, conditions can escalate quickly, and a dry morning does not mean a dry afternoon. With a full weekend of World Cup events and watch parties across the city, we're asking New Yorkers to build flexibility into their Saturday plans, keep an eye on the sky, and be ready to move indoors quickly if thunderstorms approach, and to higher ground if flash flooding begins. Our teams have been coordinating with agencies across the city all week, and we'll be monitoring conditions around the clock through the weekend."

NYCEM has activated the city's Flash Flood Emergency Plan, coordinating closely with NWS city and state agencies, utility providers and private sector partners. This proactive approach includes pre-storm actions such as targeted inspection and clearing of catch basins in flood-prone areas by the agencies like the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation to help reduce street flooding before heavy rain begins. Coordinated interagency calls ensure partners are briefed on emerging risks and prepared to escalate response operations as needed, while specialized emergency assets and response teams remain on standby for rapid deployment. NYCEM's 24/7 Watch Command continuously monitors weather conditions and tracks developing systems in real time.

New Yorkers should allow extra travel time during periods of thunderstorms and heavy rain. Do not remain in or return to areas or buildings that are flooding, and driving through flooded streets. Even shallow water can stall vehicles. Secure loose outdoor items such as patio furniture or trash bins before winds increase. If thunder is heard, move indoors and stay away from open areas. Clear debris from nearby storm drains if it is safe to do so to help reduce street flooding. Have a plan and "Be Ready" for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall by visiting nyc.gov/beready.

NYCEM recommends the following preparedness actions for New Yorkers from nyc.gov/beready:

Be Ready for Thunderstorms and Heavy Winds

Before

• Sign up for alerts. Visit nyc.gov/notifynyc or text NYC to 692-692 to get weather alerts sent directly to your phone.
• Know your plan. During a thunderstorm or high winds, ff you live in a basement or ground-floor apartment, decide now where you will go if conditions get bad - a neighbor on a higher floor, a nearby public building, or a friend or family member's home.
• Secure loose items. Bring in or tie down anything that could blow away - trash cans, lawn furniture, plant pots, and umbrellas. This includes items on balconies, rooftops, and patios. At job sites, secure tools, cones, boards, and barriers.
• Protect your home. Unplug electronics or use surge protectors to prevent damage from lightning. Make sure your basement exits are clear and easy to open.
• Get your Go Bag ready. Keep a bag near your door or bed with: medications, a flashlight, batteries, a portable phone charger, important documents in waterproof bags, and other essentials.

During

• 
  Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or see a life-threatening situation.
• If you hear thunder, go inside. Get into a sturdy building and stay there.
  Move away from windows. Go to an interior room on a lower floor. Stay away from glass doors, porches, balconies, and rooftops. Do not touch electrical equipment or plumbing (sinks, showers, or baths) during a thunderstorm. Avoid corded phones.
• If a Severe Thunderstorm Watch or Warning, or High Wind Watch or Warning is issued, go to your safe indoor spot and stay there until the warning expires. If you are in a mobile home or temporary structure, leave immediately and go to the nearest sturdy building. These structures are not safe in severe conditions, even if they are secured.If you cannot get indoors, stay away from trees, power lines, scaffolding, open fields, and bodies of water. If a tornado is approaching and you have no shelter, lie flat in a low-lying area, cover your head, and stay away from trees and vehicles.
• If you must drive, slow down and allow extra travel time. Never drive through standing water or around barricades. If a tornado is nearby, do not try to outrun it in a car - get out and seek sturdy shelter immediately.
• If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, take shelter immediately: Go to the lowest floor of a sturdy building - a basement is best. If there is no basement, go to a small interior room with no windows, such as a bathroom, closet, or hallway on the lowest floor. Get under something sturdy if you can, and protect your head and neck. Do not wait to see the tornado before you act - by the time it is visible, it may already be too late to move safely.

After Thunderstorms & Heavy Winds

• 
  Stay away from downed power lines. Treat every downed line as live and dangerous. Do not approach, touch, or drive over them. Call 911 immediately if a downed line is near people or poses an immediate danger.
• Watch out for fallen trees and branches. Do not walk under or near trees that have partially fallen or have large hanging branches - they can come down without warning. If you see a fallen tree or dangerous branch on a street, sidewalk, or in a park, call 311 to report it. If a tree has fallen on a person, a vehicle with someone inside, or a building and poses an immediate threat, call 911.
• Secure and report loose objects. After a storm, unsecured items like trash cans, signs, scaffolding materials, and construction debris can still be unstable or create hazards. If you see something dangerous on public property - a loose sign, an unsecured construction barrier, or debris blocking a street - call 311. If it poses an immediate risk to life, call 911.
• Watch where you walk. Look out for broken glass, loose debris, and anything that may still be falling from buildings or trees. After a tornado, avoid damaged structures until they are inspected - walls and roofs can collapse without warning.
• Check your home for damage. If you smell gas, hear hissing, or see a broken gas line, leave immediately and call 911 from a safe location. Do not turn on lights or appliances in a flooded basement until a qualified professional says it is safe.
• Check on your neighbors. After a storm, check on elderly neighbors, people with disabilities, and anyone who may need extra help - especially if power is out or conditions outside are still hazardous.
• Keep monitoring alerts. Check Notify NYC and local news for information about additional storms, street closures, and safety updates.

Be Ready for a Flash Flood or Excessive Rainfall Event

Before a Flash Flood or Excessive Rainfall Event

Before and during an emergency, the City will send emergency alerts through various channels, including Notify NYC, available in 13 different languages, with a special sub-group dedicated to Basement Apartment Dwellers. Subscribe to Notify NYC at NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, download the app in your phone's app store, or dial 311. Keep a battery-powered radio ready for timely updates, particularly if power outages are expected.

• Know your risk. If you live in a basement, ground-floor apartment, or a neighborhood that has flooded before, you are at higher risk. Do not wait for water to enter before you act - by then, it may be too late to leave safely. This is true even during slower rainfall events: water can accumulate gradually and then rise very quickly once it enters a space.
• Make a plan now. Decide in advance where you will go if your home starts to flood - a neighbor on a higher floor, a nearby public building, or a friend or family member's home.
• Know more than one way out of your home and make sure exits like basement doors and windows are clear and easy to open. If you use a mobility device or need help to evacuate, identify a specific person - a neighbor, family member, or building staff - who can assist you before flooding begins. Do not wait until water is entering to ask for help. If you rely on a home health aide or caregiver, include them in your emergency plan and know in advance what you will do if they cannot reach you during a storm.
• Install a water alarm or flood sensor. Small water alarms that alert you when water is detected on the floor are widely available for around $10-15. If you live in a basement or a flood-prone area, placing one near basement drains or low-lying areas can give you critical early warning - especially overnight or during slow-building rain events when you may not notice water entering until it is already dangerous.
• Clear drains, gutters, and stairwells before storms. Remove debris from around basement windows, stairwell drains, and gutters so water can flow freely. This matters especially before prolonged rain events, when drainage systems are more likely to back up over time.
  Get flood insurance. Standard renter and homeowner insurance policies do not cover flood damage. If you rent or own in a flood-prone area, ask your insurance provider about separate flood coverage.
• Register if you rely on powered medical equipment. Contact your utility provider. Keep backup batteries charged and accessible.
• Get your Go Bag ready. Keep a bag near your door or bed with: medications, a flashlight, batteries, a portable phone charger, and important documents in waterproof bags. If you use a powered mobility device, hearing aid, or other assistive technology, include extra batteries or a charger for that device. Bring copies of prescriptions and any medical documentation you may need.

During a Flash Flood or Excessive Rainfall Event

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or trapped by rising water.
• If you see heavy rain in the forecast, start thinking about your plan. You do not need to wait for an official alert to act - if you live in a basement or low-lying area, it is always safer to move early.
• If a Flash Flood Watch is issued, flooding is possible. Stay alert, keep your phone nearby, and be ready to move quickly. If a Flash Flood Warning or Flash Flood Emergency is issued,act immediately: Move to a higher floor right away - do not wait to see water. If you are told to evacuate, go now. Stay on higher ground until the warning expires. The difference between a Warning and an Emergency is severity - both require the same action. Move now.
• Once you leave a flooded area, do not go back home. Floodwater can rise in minutes. What looked safe when you left may not be safe when you return. Wait until officials confirm it is clear.
• Turn Around, Don't Drown. Never walk, swim, or drive through floodwater - no matter how shallow it looks. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock a person off their feet. Just 1 foot of water can sweep away a car. Water on streets can conceal open drains, downed power lines, and uneven surfaces.
• Never drive through flooded roads or underpasses. Turn around and find another route. Never drive around barricades - they are there for your safety.
• If you have no access to a higher floor, go to a safer nearby location before flooding begins - a NYC government building lobby such as a police precinct or hospital entrance can provide refuge.
• Avoid entering flooded subway stations. If you are already underground, follow MTA guidance and move to street level if water is entering the station. During prolonged rainfall, station and track flooding can develop gradually - check MTA alerts before traveling.
• Do not enter flooded lobbies, stations, or underpasses. Even if the water looks passable, do not enter - conditions can change in seconds.
• Do not touch floodwater. It may be contaminated with sewage, chemicals, or debris - and it may carry electrical current from downed lines or submerged equipment.
• Stay alert at night. Flash flooding can happen while you sleep and heavy rainfall can intensify overnight. Keep your phone near you with alerts turned on and the volume up.
• Do not touch electrical equipment or appliances if you or the equipment are wet.
• Prepare for Outages: To gear up for potential power disruptions, keep your cell phones charged, stock up on supplies. If power outages are predicted, consider adjusting your refrigerator and freezer to colder settings to extend the shelf life of perishable items. Ensure that flashlights and battery-operated radios or TVs are functional, keeping extra batteries on hand. If you rely on Life Sustaining Equipment (LSE) and lose power, dial 911 for immediate assistance, and remember never to use generators indoors.
• Check on vulnerable individuals in your community, such as older adults and people with disabilities or health conditions and assist them in their preparations.

For the latest updates sign up for emergency alerts by visiting the Notify NYC page, texting 'NotifyNYC' to 692-692 or call 311.

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MEDIA CONTACT: NYCEM Press Office (718) 422-4888

STAY CONNECTED: @NotifyNYC (emergency notifications)

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