Severe Thunderstorms, Flash Floods, and Tornado Risk Hit New York City
New York City is experiencing severe weather conditions following days of smoky skies and intense heat. On Saturday, July 18, 2026, thunderstorms brought damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and flash flooding to the area. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flood watch from 10 a.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday, with rainfall totals expected to range from 1 to 1.5 inches, and localized areas receiving up to 2 to 4 inches. The storms, which included pea-sized hail and wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph, caused significant disruptions, including flooded streets, stranded vehicles, and delays at major airports like JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia. An isolated tornado remains a possibility, and the storms are expected to be most severe between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. The rain is also expected to help clear lingering smoke from Canadian wildfires, which has affected air quality in the region since Wednesday.