WASHINGTON CROSSING, PENNSYLVANIA (AP) – Heavy rains pounded an already saturated Northeast on Sunday for the second time in a week, spurring another round of flash flooding, cancelled airline flights and power outages. In Pennsylvania, a sudden flash flood late Saturday afternoon claimed at least five lives.
Officials in Bucks County’s Upper Makefield Township in Pennsylvania said torrential rains occurred around 5.30pm on Saturday in the Washington Crossing area, sweeping away several cars. At least five people died and two childen, a nine-month-old boy and his two-year-old sister, remained missing, authorities said.
Other parts of the East Coast were experiencing heavy rain, including Vermont. Authorities there said landslides became a problem on Sunday as the state copes with more rain following days of flooding.
“There are flash flood warnings throughout the state today. Remain vigilant and be prepared,” Vermont Governor Phil Scott said.
Sunday’s strong storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, according to the tracking service FlightAware. More than 350 flights were cancelled at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey alone, while more than 280 flights were cancelled at Kennedy International Airport in New York. Hundreds of flights were delayed.
The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings and tornado watches for parts of Connecticut, western Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. A tornado warning was issued for an area along the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border. Thousands of power outages also were reported.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged people to stay home until the storms passed.
“Here comes the rain. It just seems unrelenting this year,” she said. “You have to avoid unnecessary travel… A flash flood doesn’t give you warning… and in those moments your car can go from a place of safety to a place of death.”
