55.0°,
Mostly Cloudy Flooding forces road closures in Long Beach, LIRR service disruptions
Service suspended on the LIRR's Long Beach branch
The National Weather Service issued a flash-flood watch and warning for Long Beach on Sunday, with periods of heavy precipitation that dropped up to roughly 10-inches of rain on the city. Sunday’s storms produced heavy rainfall and flooded local streets in Long Beach and nearby communities such as East Atlantic Beach, as the weather service reported a 90 percent chance of precipitation throughout the day and into the evening.
Sunday night, the weather service called for continued showers and heavy rain, along with a possible thunderstorm. With a low of around 69 tonight, and a south wind between 9 and 16 mph, the weather service expects an 80 percent chance of precipitation tonight, with new rainfall amounts between one- and two-inches.
As of 11:32 p.m. Sunday, the Long Island Rail Road reported that service remained suspended in both directions on the Long Beach and Far Rockaway branches due to flooding and weather-related signal problems. Service was restored by Monday morning.
According to the New York State Department of Transportation, flooding also forced the closure of the Meadowbrook State Parkway in both directions at Exit M7E, between Babylon Turnpike and the Southern State Parkway. The DOT is also reporting flooding on the Wantagh State Parkway in both directions at Exit W5W - NY 27, with all lanes closed. Locally, the Loop Parkway was closed earlier today and portions of Lido Boulevard were closed for most of the day due to flooding.
“The Loop Parkway is now open, the Meadowbrook is closed at Babylon Turnpike and Lido Boulevard is closed,” resident Zach Grunter told the Herald.
“Lido Boulevard [is closed] - just now got a call,” said resident Richard Dicky Riddlebarger on Facebook Sunday afternoon. “We are isolated right now.”
The rain flooded homes and basements, left some residents without hot water and made driving along local streets treacherous.
"Cabs would only go to destinations between Lido and Hempstead Park to the Atlantic Beach Bridge," Peter Thoung said. "No off island service."
