The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings Thursday, Nov. 12, for Queens, northeastern Monmouth County in New Jersey and parts of the Delaware Valley. Queens is under a warning through 5:15 p.m. Eastern, and the Monmouth warning runs until 3:45 p.m. Eastern. The Delaware Valley warning runs until 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
Under the Queens warning, the weather service said radar showed thunderstorms producing heavy rain at 2:10 p.m. Eastern. Forecasters estimated that 1 to 2.5 inches had already fallen in the warned area, with another 1 to 2 inches possible in an hour. The warning said flash flooding was already occurring or expected to start shortly. Streets, underpasses and other low-lying areas can flood quickly. Jamaica, Rockaway Beach and JFK Airport are among the locations forecasters identified.
In the Monmouth County warning, forecasters named Middletown, Tinton Falls, Red Bank, Keansburg, Lincroft and North Middletown. At 12:31 p.m. Eastern, the weather service relayed a state traffic report of flooding on Route 35, with southbound lanes closed at New Monmouth Road and northbound lanes closed south of Kings Highway and Tindall Road. Check current road conditions before leaving.
New York City Emergency Management advises moving to higher ground or a higher floor if flooding threatens. Stay out of flooded streets and underpasses, on foot or in a vehicle. The weather service urged anyone in a basement in the Queens warning area to be ready to move upstairs. Travelers headed to JFK can check their airline and Edit USA’s airport coverage for current flight restrictions.
