Severe storms batter New York City and northern New Jersey
NEW YORK CITY – On the evening of July 3, powerful thunderstorms swept across the New York City metro area and much of the I-95 corridor, delivering damaging wind gusts and hail that disrupted travel and brought down trees and power lines ahead of Independence Day.
Between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., scattered storms generated wind gusts between 50 and 65 mph (80-105 km/h) across portions of northern New Jersey and the Hudson Valley. The National Weather Service confirmed that Plainfield, New Jersey, experienced particularly intense damage, including downed trees and power lines, with people temporarily trapped in vehicles due to storm debris.
Further north, significant wind-related damage was reported around Middletown and Kingston, New York. In Spafford, in central New York, dramatic video captured hailstones pelting windshields as rain reduced visibility to near zero. Large hail and blinding downpours created treacherous road conditions.
Airports across the Northeast affected
The storm system also caused flight delays at major regional hubs, including John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Boston Logan International, with ripple effects across domestic air traffic on one of the busiest travel days of the year. This marks the second major storm outbreak along the I-95 corridor this week, following severe storms on Tuesday that snarled travel from Philadelphia to Boston.
Video footage from Northeast Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon showed vehicles navigating flooded streets, highlighting how saturated the ground had already become prior to Thursday’s storms.
Tropical threat brewing for Florida and the Carolinas
Meanwhile, further south, concern is mounting over a developing tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico. Meteorologists are monitoring potential heavy rainfall amounts of over 6 inches (152 mm) across parts of Florida, raising the risk for a weekend washout and potential flooding from the Florida Panhandle to the Carolina coast.
Fourth of July forecast turns brighter for Northeast
Despite the chaotic lead-up, Friday’s forecast brings a much-needed change. The storm system is expected to move offshore overnight, allowing for clearing skies and pleasant weather across the Northeast and New England on Independence Day, with temperatures hovering near 80°F (27°C) under partly sunny skies.
