Record-Breaking NYC Rainfall Claims Two Lives, Shatters Century-Old Records

New York City experienced a deadly deluge on Thursday as record-breaking rainfall overwhelmed the city’s infrastructure, claiming at least two lives and causing widespread flooding across streets and subway stations.

The unprecedented storm shattered weather records that had stood for over a century. Central Park recorded 45.7mm (1.8 inches) of rain, surpassing the previous record of 41.7mm set in 1917. Meanwhile, LaGuardia Airport was hit even harder, receiving 50mm of rainfall that demolished the airport’s 1955 record of 30mm.

The tragic human cost became apparent as two people were found dead in flooded basements, highlighting the particular vulnerability of below-ground spaces during extreme weather events. The fatalities underscore growing concerns about urban flooding risks as climate change intensifies rainfall patterns in major metropolitan areas.

This deadly storm adds to mounting evidence of how extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe in urban environments. New York City’s aging infrastructure, much of it built decades ago, continues to struggle with the increasing intensity of modern storms. The flooding of subway stations and streets demonstrates the cascading effects these weather events have on critical city services and daily life.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for cities to adapt their infrastructure and emergency preparedness to handle increasingly unpredictable and severe weather patterns driven by climate change.