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Read the press release here.

Severe Thunderstorm and Flash Flood Warnings For NYC

By  Nigel Chiwaya and Amy Zimmer | August 15, 2012 1:50pm | Updated on August 15, 2012 7:56pm

NEW YORK CITY — The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning Wednesday afternoon for Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn and a flash flood warning for Queens and Brooklyn.

The thunderstorm warning was in effect until 4:45 p.m., and the flash flood warning was in effect until 5:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service, whose radar picked up the storm in Ozone Park and Crown Heights before 1:30 p.m., said it was capable of producing quarter-sized hail with winds greater than 60 mph.

There were bursts of hail in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Hollis, Queens and elsewhere.

Forest Hills saw flooding at the busy intersection of 71st Avenue and Austin Street for the second time in three weeks.

"The whole street was flooded on both sides. It was pretty bad," said Carl Gill, who works at the Cohen's Fashion Optical on 71st Avenue.

He said the basement of his store was flooded even though "it wasn't even raining that hard."

A huge puddle quickly formed at the intersection in the flash flood, but quickly disappeared, too.

Long Island Railroad Service between Jamaica and Brooklyn was suspended on Wednesday afternoon but was restored just after 6:30 p.m., according to the Office of Emergency Management.