WEATHER: Winter rainstorm drenches NYC area; flooding is a major concern ahead of next storm Friday

The Bronx River Parkway was totally flooded in both directions at Exit 10 near the Westchester County line on Wednesday morning
The Bronx River Parkway was totally flooded in both directions at Exit 10 near the Westchester County line on Wednesday morning. Photo credit Roger Stern

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A storm packing heavy rains and winds soaked the New York City area late Tuesday into Wednesday, leaving a path of flooding and power outages in its wake.

Roughly 2 to 3 inches of rain fell atop already saturated ground and amid ongoing snowmelt from last weekend's storm. Some spots even saw 4 inches. Rainfall is 170% above the historical seasonal average for New York City, with well over 30 inches recorded since Sept. 1.

"Mother Nature's throwing everything at us," Mayor Eric Adams told 1010 WINS on Tuesday night as the storm was lashing the city.

People walk in Queens on the night of Jan. 9, 2024
People walk in Queens on the night of Jan. 9, 2024. Photo credit CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

There were roughly 50,000 customers without power across the major utilities in New York City, New Jersey, Long Island and the Hudson Valley early Wednesday.

The FAA issued brief ground stops at LaGuardia and JFK airports on late Tuesday, and hours-long delays were reported for flights overnight, according to NYC Emergency Management.

Nearly 2,000 migrants were relocated from the Floyd Bennett Field tent encampment to a Brooklyn high school due to the severe weather.

Flooding was causing numerous issues on roadways, including on the Bronx River Parkway, which was totally flooded in both directions at Exit 10 near the Westchester County line.

A wall collapsed behind an auto body shop on Carter Avenue in the Mt. Hope section of the Bronx. No one was hurt.

A wall collapsed behind the Yorky Clean Car shop on Carter Avenue in the Bronx. The photo on the right shows the wall prior to the collapse
A wall collapsed behind the Yorky Clean Car shop on Carter Avenue in the Bronx. The photo on the right shows the wall prior to the collapse. Photo credit Roger Stern/Grafton Jones

Video shows the Saddle River loaded with floodwater in Lodi, where several rescues took place.

As high tide neared closer on Long Island on Wednesday morning, parts of the southern shore were already inundated by coastal flooding. In Nassau County, video showed cars sloshing through water that had collected on the streets of Freeport. Near the Hamptons, the National Weather Service reported major flooding out of Shinnecock Bay. Several schools across Long Island said they were either canceling or delaying classes.

The storm had moved out by daybreak Wednesday, but major flooding will continue to be a concern until the next windy rainstorm hits Friday night and brings another 1 to 2 inches of rain, according to AccuWeather.

Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph, and gusts up to 50 mph, are still possible Wednesday as temps stick to the 50s during the day.

People walk in Times Square on Jan. 9, 2024
People walk in Times Square on Jan. 9, 2024. Photo credit Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images

A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect for a swath of Long Island and New Jersey until the afternoon, while much of North Jersey is under a Flood Warning. Parts of the city were under a Coastal Flood Advisory, according to the National Weather Service.

National Weather Service
Photo credit National Weather Service

Clouds will give way to some sun Wednesday ahead of mostly sunny skies on Thursday and Friday. But the third big storm of the week on Friday night will renew flooding concerns, according to AccuWeather.

AccuWeather
Photo credit AccuWeather

Flood and wind advisories were set to last into the day Wednesday, including a Coastal Flood Warning for a swath of Long Island and the Jersey Shore. Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx are under a Wind Advisory until 8 p.m.

AccuWeather
Photo credit AccuWeather
AccuWeather
Photo credit AccuWeather

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Roger Stern/TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images