Long Island Expressway In NE Queens Floods After Rain Pummels NYC

AUBURNDALE, QUEENS — Torrential rain flooded the Long Island Expressway on Monday night and brought all traffic to a complete halt.

All lanes of the LIE closed 8 p.m. Monday for nearly an hour after severe flooding by Francis Lewis Boulevard stopped drivers in their tracks, according to NYC Emergency Management.

The expressway reopened shortly before 9 p.m.

2nd car stalled trying to get through the flood on LIE westbound at 188st. @1010WINS @CBSNewYork @NBCNewYork @ABC7NY @fox5ny pic.twitter.com/hrbcjjiiEx
— Matt M-B (@HeyBooBoo91) July 23, 2019

The powerful thunderstorms and heavy rain that hit the city Monday followed a weekend heat wave that left tens of thousands of New Yorkers without power.