Heavy Rain and Flooding Slam Northeast After Holiday Weekend

Communities across the Northeast are beginning cleanup efforts after powerful storms brought torrential rain, flash flooding and widespread power outages following the Independence Day holiday weekend.Heavy rainfall submerged roads, stranded vehicles and disrupted travel across parts of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. In Ocean Township, New Jersey, surveillance video captured part of the roof collapsing at a BJ's Wholesale Club as rainwater poured into the building. Authorities said no injuries were reported.Floodwaters also inundated communities along the Jersey Shore, where first responders helped rescue residents trapped by rising water. In New York City, Coney Island was soaked by more than six inches of rain, while some areas received more than eight inches over just a few days—far exceeding the region's average rainfall for the entire month of July.The storms followed a destructive holiday weekend that brought down dozens of large trees across the region. In Paramus, New Jersey, 75-year-old sycamore trees toppled onto homes and roadways, while utility crews worked through difficult conditions to restore electricity to hundreds of thousands of customers.Forecasters say conditions are expected to improve across the New York metropolitan area, but additional rain is forecast for parts of New England, where flooding concerns remain.Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley. For more Coachella Valley News visit NBCPalmSprings.com