NYC storm floods crowded subway car, topples trees in 'microburst' of 70-mph winds

Publish date: 2024-04-20

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A brief, but mighty storm tour through the Big Apple Tuesday afternoon, flooding subway cars and toppling trees in Brooklyn.

The powerful thunderstorm caused flash flooding and a “microburst” with winds reaching 60 to 70 miles per hour in Bensonhurst, according to the National Weather Service.

The agency confirmed that a microburst — a localized column of sinking air within a thunderstorm that can cause extensive damage — leveled several trees and shattered windows of cars parked along Bay Ridge Avenue shortly before 4 p.m.

Microbursts can be life-threatening and cause as much damage as tornados, with winds topping 100 miles per hour, according to NWS.

A short distance away, water from torrential rains poured into a crowded N subway train at the outdoor New Utrecht Avenue station.

Water falls into the N subway train outside New Utrecht Avenue station and splashes onto the ground, creating a huge puddle. Jeff Walden via Storyful
A stream of water can be seen flowing on the ground inside the N subway train outside New Utrecht Avenue station. Jeff Walden via Storyful

Water covered a train floor where straphangers lifted their feet to avoid the wet mess, according to a video taken by one of the MTA riders.

By 4 p.m., the storms already produced two inches of rainfall, according to the NWS.

The service had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the entire tristate area until 8 p.m.

More water from the torrential rains pours into a crowded N subway train out of New Utrecht Avenue station. Jeff Walden via Storyful

There were no reported injuries during the storm.

Conditions began to dry out Tuesday night as New Yorkers prepare for scorching hot days the rest of the week with temperatures in the 90s.

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