Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – Heavy rain is set to drench the Hudson Valley and northwestern Connecticut starting Thursday afternoon, raising flood risks for drivers and homeowners through Friday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Albany, a Flood Watch goes into effect at 2 p.m. today for Dutchess and Ulster counties in New York, as well as Litchfield County, Connecticut. Rain will intensify Thursday afternoon and evening, with widespread totals of 1.5 to 3 inches expected—locally higher amounts possible where thunderstorms develop.
Urban areas like Poughkeepsie, Kingston, and Torrington are especially vulnerable to flash flooding, with poor drainage roads and low-lying neighborhoods likely to see rapid water buildup. Key travel routes—including Route 9, I-84, and parts of the Taconic State Parkway—could experience hazardous conditions as runoff overwhelms drainage systems. The threat extends through Friday morning, and additional rainfall could prompt more warnings overnight.
Residents are urged to stay off flooded roadways, move vehicles from low spots, and keep cell phones charged in case of emergency alerts. This is the region’s most significant flood threat of the summer, echoing similar severe storms in July 2023.
The Flood Watch remains in effect until at least 8 a.m. Friday, and further updates or warnings are possible as storms track across the area.
