By Jim Scott
DNAinfo Senior Editor
MANHATTAN — A torrential downpoor caused flooding in parts of Manhattan and heavy winds blew over several trees, resulting in a messy Friday morning commute.
Rain began to fall in buckets around 5 a.m. and caused delays on several subway lines as a result. New York City received three inches of rain by 8 a.m., the Daily News reported.
Heavy wind blew over several trees, including one that landed on a Harlem mom.
There were gusts of 40 to 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
The city asked residents to call 311 if they see any trees with heavy damage to them.
"People should take extra care and report any dangling or damaged limbs to 311. Please don't assume that someone else has done that for you," OEM Commissioner Joseph Bruno told NY1.
Straphangers on the the West Side of Manhattan had to find an alternate way to work after flooding caused the suspension of service on the 1, 2, and 3 subway lines for several hours Friday morning.
Service was suspended for two hours in both directions from 42nd Street to 96 Street before being restored just before 8 a.m.
"If you don't have an umbrella, I hope you can swim," quipped straphanger Raul Martinez, as he and other commuters were forced to exit the 96th Street station around 6 a.m.
Police and MTA workers distributed transfer tickets, instructing diverted passengers to board the M104 train, which was stopping at local 1 train stops. Still, dozens of passengers wandered in the downpour, unable to board the packed buses.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for New York City until 12 p.m.
The heavy rains caused NJ Transit and Metro-North delays as well as several accidents on the road ways, according to WCBS-TV.
Flooding closed a ramp from the George Washington Bridge to the West Side Highway around 6:30 a.m., NY1 reported. Traffic from New Jersey was backed up on the lower level of the bridge as a result.
