Heavy rain and thunderstorms swept through Brooklyn on Thursday evening, causing widespread street flooding and sending water into lower levels of homes and businesses across the area.
In Crown Heights, photos and videos from 770 Eastern Parkway showed significant flooding inside the Main Shul, as heavy rainfall overwhelmed drainage around the busy synagogue.
The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for Brooklyn and Manhattan shortly before 5:40 p.m., with the warning remaining in effect until 7:45 p.m. Additional warnings were issued for other parts of New York City as the storms moved through the region.
New York City is also under a Flood Watch through 2:00 a.m. Friday. City officials warned that heavy rainfall could quickly flood streets, highways, underpasses, basements and other low-lying areas.
The storms are part of a larger system affecting the Tri-State Area, bringing periods of torrential rainfall and thunderstorms during the evening commute. Forecasters warned that rainfall rates could reach around 2 inches per hour in parts of the city.
NYC Emergency Management urged residents of basement apartments to be prepared to move to higher ground during periods of heavy rain, warning that basement flooding can occur rapidly and with little notice. Officials also cautioned New Yorkers not to walk or drive through flooded roadways.
The rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue through the evening before gradually moving out of the area overnight.
