The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flood advisory effective Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 10 p.m. until Wednesday, Aug. 7, at 1 a.m. for Bronx County. Urban and small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected, NWS officials said.

 

NWS officials said that at 7.42 p.m. the Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms produced heavy rain across area and that between 2.5 and 4.5 inches of rain had already fallen. They said the expected rainfall rate was between 0.5 and one inch in one hour. They said additional rainfall amounts of one to 2 inches were possible in the affected area and flash flooding was ongoing.

At 10 p.m., they said minor flooding in low-lying, poor drainage areas was forecast (and was already the case at that stage). River and stream flows were elevated, officials added.

 

According to NWS officials, at 10.04 p.m. the NWS gauge reports indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms, causing urban and small stream flooding.

 

They said some locations that would experience flooding included East Tremont and Fordham.

Elizabeth Quaranta, executive director of local environmental and parks group, Friends of Mosholu Parkland, told Norwood News that she and her group of summer interns had actually cleared the drainage points along Mosholu Parkway by Van Cortlandt Avenue in Bedford Park of leaves and other debris on Monday, Aug. 5.

 

Despite this, parts of the parkway were seen submerged in water on Tuesday evening amid heavy rainfall.

Some cars made U-turns avoiding some sections of the parkway, and frustrated drivers could be heard sounding their horns as a result. A number of FDNY vehicles were spotted in the vicinity around this time, though it is unknown if they were responding to flooding emergencies or other events.

 

There was a report of five cars getting stuck in floods under the overpass of the Major Deegan Expressway at 236th Street at around 7.19 p.m. We’ve followed up with the FDNY for more details and a spokesperson later confirmed that the department were alerted at 6.51 p.m. to a car that was stuck in water at Exit 10 on the Major Deegan Expressway at West 230th Street. They reported no injuries.

Meanwhile, NWS officials advise Bronxites to turn around and not risk drowning when encountering flooded roads. They say most flood deaths occur in vehicles. “Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding,” officials added. “Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.”

 

They concluded, “Stay away or be swept away. River banks and culverts can become unstable and unsafe.”

New York City Public Schools announced earlier on Tuesday that it remained in close communication with NYC Emergency Management regarding the latest forecast, and had communicated with families participating in summer programming regarding the anticipated severe weather patterns.

 

Officials said summer programming remained open and busing proceeded as normal. They said families were made aware that should they wish, they were welcome to pick up students at any time that was convenient before 6 p.m. Middle school students were allowed self-dismiss at the end of the day with authorized guardian approval.

 

Public School Athletic League (PSAL) events and afterschool activities proceeded as scheduled. Some scheduled outdoor PSAL activities were moved inside or canceled due to weather conditions. Some National Night Out events also moved indoors.

 

Norwood News was informed that it took one man an hour to get home on a bus along Jerome Avenue amid the floods and another man said it took him two hours driving in his car due to being stuck in traffic as “all the highways were flooded.”

 

For more information, visit http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood.