May 20, 2026 Severe Thunderstorms and NYC Flash Flooding

Radar Summary

Observed Rainfall

Local Storm Reports

Weather Maps

Overview

A line of showers and thunderstorms developed along a cold front that moved across the area during the evening of Wednesday May 20, 2026.
Isolated damaging winds occurred in portions of Westchester County, Northern Suffolk County, and in Brooklyn.
Merging thunderstorms in Brooklyn and Queens produced localized flash flooding with 1-hour rainfall rates 1.5 to around 2 inches.
New York Mesonet 5-minute rainfall rates peaked at 0.25-0.50 inches in the hardest hit locations in Brooklyn and Queens.

Radar Summary

Click here for an interactive version of this loop. Radar loop courtesy of the Iowa Environmental Mesonet and runs from 3:00 PM EDT Wednesday, May 20 through 11:00 PM EDT Wednesday, May 20. The large yellow boxes represent severe thunderstorm watches, yellow polygons represent severe thunderstorm warnings, and blue polygons represent Special Marine Warnings

Observed Rainfall Analysis

New York State Mesonet Rainfall Data

Max 5-Minute Rainfall Rate Click image for larger version)	Max 1-Hour Rainfall Rate Click image for larger version)	Max 24-Hour Rainfall Click image for larger version)

Local Storm Reports

Local Storm Report Summary


..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0444 PM     Hail             1 N White Plains        41.04N 73.76W
05/20/2026  M0.75 Inch       Westchester        NY   Public           

             

0530 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 S Golden's Bridge     41.25N 73.68W
05/20/2026                   Westchester        NY   Law Enforcement  

            Tree down on I-684 near Saw Mill River 
            Parkway exit. 

0530 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 S Golden's Bridge     41.26N 73.67W
05/20/2026                   Westchester        NY   Fire Dept/Rescue 

            Wires reported down on Jay Street and Beaver 
            Dam Road in Katonah. 

0442 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NNE East Northport    40.89N 73.32W
05/20/2026                   Suffolk            NY   Public           

            Tree and branches down on Soundview Avenue 
            in East Northport with time of report 
            estimated by radar. 

0540 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SSE Fort Salonga      40.90N 73.29W
05/20/2026                   Suffolk            NY   Dept of Highways 

            Downed tree on NY 25A at Hastings Drive in 
            Smithtown with all lanes closed both 
            directions. 

0815 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 1 S Brookhaven          40.76N 72.91W
05/20/2026  M54 MPH          Suffolk            NY   Mesonet          

            Bellport mesonet measured a marine 
            thunderstorm wind gust of 47 kt. 

0815 PM     Lightning        Shelter Island          41.08N 72.34W
05/20/2026                   Suffolk            NY   Fire Dept/Rescue 

            Multiple reports of trees struck by 
            lightning with some on fire along with power 
            outages. 

0648 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 2 NW Westerleigh        40.64N 74.16W
05/20/2026  M45 MPH          Richmond           NY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station MHRN6 2 SE Elizabeth 
            measured a marine thunderstorm wind gust of 
            39 kt. 

0647 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 1 SW Breezy Point       40.55N 73.93W
05/20/2026  M41 MPH          Queens             NY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station XBRZ Breezy Point measured a 
            marine thunderstorm wind gust of 36 kt. 

0745 PM     Flash Flood      1 SW Bellerose          40.71N 73.73W
05/20/2026                   Queens             NY   Law Enforcement  

            The northbound Cross Island Expressway is 
            closed at Hempstead Avenue in Queens with 
            time estimated by radar. 

0745 PM     Flash Flood      1 NNW Fresh Meadows     40.74N 73.79W
05/20/2026                   Queens             NY   Dept of Highways 

            Corrects previous flash flood report for 
            report source from 1 NNW Fresh Meadows. 
            Flooding on I-495 in both directions at 
            188th Street with all lanes blocked with 
            time estimated by radar. 

0745 PM     Flash Flood      1 N Fresh Meadows       40.75N 73.78W
05/20/2026                   Queens             NY   Dept of Highways 

            Flooding on I-295 northbound at 48th Avenue 
            (all lanes blocked) with time estimated by 
            radar and rainfall observations. 

0745 PM     Flash Flood      2 WNW Jamaica           40.72N 73.83W
05/20/2026                   Queens             NY   Dept of Highways 

            Flooding on Grand Central Parkway eastbound 
            approaching Van Wyck 1-678 with all lanes 
            blocked. Time of flooding estimated. 

0639 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SW Midwood            40.61N 73.97W
05/20/2026                   Kings              NY   Public           

            Tree reported branches down. 

0710 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Bay Ridge               40.62N 74.02W
05/20/2026                   Kings              NY   Fire Dept/Rescue 

            Tree down on Shore Road and 97th Street. 

0742 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 4 SE Mystic             41.32N 71.91W
05/20/2026  M45 MPH          ANZ332             CT   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station XSTO Stonington Outer 
            Breakwater reported a marine thunderstorm 
            wind gust of 39 kt. 

0700 PM     Marine Tstm Wind Robins Reef Lighthouse  40.66N 74.07W
05/20/2026  M55 MPH          ANZ338             NY   Mesonet          

            A marine thunderstorm wind gust of 48 kt. 

0734 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 2 WNW Captree State Par 40.65N 73.30W
05/20/2026  M39 MPH          ANZ345             NY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station XGRS Fire Island CG measured 
            a marine thunderstorm wind gust of 34 kt. 

0736 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 1 S Captree State Park  40.62N 73.26W
05/20/2026  M39 MPH          Suffolk            NY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet site XFIR measured a 34 knot wind 
            gust. 

0748 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 1 ENE Ocean Beach       40.65N 73.14W
05/20/2026  M39 MPH          ANZ345             NY   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station XPOW Point O Woods YC 
            measured a marine thunderstorm wind gust of 
            34 kt. 

0756 PM     Marine Tstm Wind Groton Airport          41.33N 72.05W
05/20/2026  M48 MPH          New London         CT   ASOS             

            ASOS station KGON Groton Airport reported a 
            marine thunderstorm wind gust of 42 kt.

The above link and map are courtesy of the Iowa State University State Mesonet (IEM) National Weather Service Text Product Archive

Surface Analysis

500 mb Analysis

Precipitable Water