Extreme Weather

Months of very little rain on Long Island have contributed to brush fires and a record-breaking water demand throughout the region.

Neighborhoods on Long Island’s north shore are assessing the damage after torrential rains Sunday through Monday unleashed flash floods, burst dams and mudslides. Suffolk County officials estimate recovery efforts will cost over $50 million.

The heavy rain and flooding that Connecticut and Long Island experienced this weekend have been billed as a “once-in-a-lifetime” storm. But officials from the National Weather Service say they’re becoming more common and harder to predict.

Suffolk County officials said flash floods washed out roads, prompted a state of emergency declaration and canceled move-in day at Stony Brook University.

In the midst of a more active hurricane season than usual, Suffolk County is urging residents to prepare now for extreme weather events — and that planning should include the family pets.

Connecticut and New York are preparing for days of heavy rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Beryl, a record-breaking storm now heading toward the Northeast.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has co-sponsored a bill to direct $100 million in federal funding for the Preventing Health Emergencies And Temperature-related (HEAT) Illness and Deaths Act.

Mike Knowland, ISO-NE’s manager of forecast and scheduling, said the winter is the busiest time for the grid, but the summer can strain it, too — especially during heat waves or hurricanes, which are expected this year.

Suffolk County officials say the damage from wind, rain and storm surge is similar to that of Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy over a decade ago.

Tuesday night’s storm brought heavy rain and high winds to Connecticut, causing coastal and inland flooding. On Wednesday morning, communities along the Norwalk River cleaned up the damage.