Staten Island Faces Power Outages, Flooding, and Traffic Chaos as Heavy Storm Hits

The first drops began falling before dawn, but by midday, the storm had intensified — bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and widespread disruption across Staten Island. Power lines snapped, trees came down, and streets turned into rivers as residents struggled to navigate the worsening conditions.

At the peak of the storm, around 1,600 customers lost power, according to Con Edison’s online outage map. By late afternoon, that number had dropped to just over 500, though cleanup efforts were still underway.

Despite the chaos, there was a brief moment of calm — and beauty — when a rainbow appeared over South Beacharound 5 p.m., offering commuters a rare sight after a long, difficult day.

Flooding Brings Traffic to a Standstill

By midafternoon, flooding had been reported across several neighborhoods, including Eltingville, New Dorp, Midland Beach, and New Brighton. On Travis Avenue, vehicles cautiously maneuvered through standing water, while smaller cars were forced to turn around. In Bay Terrace, a large tree collapsed onto a white Cadillac CT5, crushing the roof and injuring one person, who was later taken to Northwell Staten Island University Hospital.

Transportation Disruptions Mount

Power outages also affected the St. George Ferry Terminal, where a temporary blackout left parts of the building in darkness for nearly 20 minutes. Ferry operations resumed after power was restored.
Meanwhile, Staten Island express buses were rerouted through New Jersey, causing significant delays. Traffic on the Staten Island Expressway backed up all the way to Victory Boulevard, as authorities restricted trailers from crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge due to dangerous wind gusts.

Schools and Infrastructure Impacted

Monsignor Farrell High School in Oakwood dismissed students early after losing power, joining more than 1,200 households and businesses affected across the borough. Con Edison crews worked throughout the afternoon to restore service, particularly in Silver Lake, one of the hardest-hit areas.

A City Under Water

By early afternoon, streets like Richmond Terrace, Forest Hill Road, and Hylan Boulevard were under several inches of water. Flooding caused significant slowdowns and forced lane closures, while flashing traffic lights at Clove Road and Narrows Road North added to the gridlock.

Emergency services were stretched thin, responding to downed wires in Huguenot and Grymes Hill, and fires sparked by fallen branches. Despite the hazardous conditions, officials said there were no reports of major injuries.

Forecast and Aftermath

The National Weather Service reported rainfall rates exceeding one inch per hour at times, with total accumulation expected between 1.5 and 2.5 inches by nightfall. While the worst of the storm subsided by early evening, residents were warned to remain cautious as cleanup and power restoration continued.

As the sun finally broke through the clouds, Staten Islanders were left surveying the damage — and the rainbow — marking the end of yet another stormy day.