Thursday, July 31, 2025 4:08PM
With heavy rain expected on Thursday, Darla Miles has more on what the MTA is doing to make prevent the type flooding in the subway system that happened a few weeks ago.
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — As the Tri-State area braces for another round of storms and a moderate risk of flash flooding on Thursday, the MTA is taking steps to keep the subways safe and dry.
New York City officials are urging New Yorkers to take precautions ahead of the strong storms on Thursday.
Chief Meteorologist Lee Goldberg says there’s a rare-moderate risk of flash flooding on Thursday afternoon and night. One to three inches of rain is expected, but locally, up to five inches could fall. Rainfall rates could reach two inches in 30 minutes.
Lines of heavy rain and thunderstorms will begin to move into this area of the I-95 corridor as soon as 12 p.m., with the heaviest rain tracking through the I-95 corridor from New York City to D.C. leading up to and through the evening work commute.
The rain lingers around into the evening hours, beginning to wind down before midnight from west to east.
A travel advisory urges New Yorkers to avoid travel from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon.
A few weeks ago water poured into the No. 1 subway station at 28th Street during a flash flood warning.
With heavy rain expected on Thursday, the MTA is making some changes.
There was water cascading from above, water spouting from the sewer system and seemed to be coming from everywhere during the flash flooding two weeks ago.
“We have a risk of storm water overtopping the side walk and flowing into the subway, this protects against it,” Eric Wilson VP of the MTA Climate Resistance and Sustainability said.
Wilson said part of the ongoing station upgrades and flood mitigation measures is the elevated step.
It’s basic but a very effective tool.
“It’s a just little bit of elevation in the subway step that protects the storm water from running off from the sidewalk and streets and down into the subway station,” Wilson said.
It’s unnoticeable under a bench and bike rack but the elevated drain is also designed to redirect water from flowing down into the subway system.
“These are our main surface mitigations, we do have the pumping system,” Wilson said.
Manholes at the 28th Street subway station have covers that have been welded shut.
“What I saw was the water the coming, it was a flash flood, it was pretty bad. So yeah, it’s a big concern if that’s going to happen again tomorrow, I have concern because I have to go to work,” a subway rider said.
There’s also other water mitigation measures like catch drains from the street and drains along the tracks.
“The intensity of a lot of rain storms is very difficult to predict so we do what we can to mitigate and we will do are best in this upcoming event,” Wilson said.
Additional safety actions:
If you live in a basement or below-grade home or a frequently flooded area, relocate to a safer location as soon as conditions could lead to flooding.
Pay close attention to weather alerts.
Stay indoors during thunderstorms and away from windows as flying debris and downed trees could be dangerous.
Treat any downed power lines as live and report them to 911.
Move vehicles to higher ground if you are in a flood-prone area.
Clear debris from gutters and drains near your home to help reduce localized flooding.
The recent earthquake and tsunami warnings are another example of weather concerns across the world.
On Thursday, watch “Preparing For Extremes” on Eyewitness News at 5:30 p.m. where our team of meteorologists will examine the science behind the recent supercharged and sometimes deadly storms.
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