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Ferocious Thunderstorms Cause Commuting Problems

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Jun 15, 2008 12:14 am US/Eastern

Ferocious Thunderstorms Cause Commuting Problems

NEW YORK (CBS) ―

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Heavy rainfall is causing problems for commuters on the rails, roads, and skies. Flooding near the Utopia Parkway exit has shut down the Long Island Expressway in both directions.

Due to a water condition at the Briarwood-Van Wyck Boulevard Station in Queens, 'F' train service has been suspended in both directions between the Briarwood-Van Wyck Boulevard Station and the Jamaica-179th Street Station. Following an earlier condition, 'L' train service has resumed with residual delays.

Ferocious thunderstorms swamped highways, shut down some subways and backed up airline traffic around the New York City area. The wild weather briefly knocked out power to Nassau County's 911 system and has left thousands of homes and businesses in the dark.

Departing flights are running more than four hours late Saturday night at John F. Kennedy, Newark Liberty and LaGuardia airports.

Parts of numerous streets and highways are closed because of flooding and downed trees. New York City firefighters say at least one car has been submerged.

"[It was] amazing. A wall of wind, hail, and rain - it just came by. We ran around closing windows. People were panicking. It was just unbelievable. I never saw anything like it. We looked outside there were trees falling all over," said an overwhelmed Forest Hills resident Richard Karsten. Nearly 2.5 inches of rain were recorded in Forest Hills on Saturday.

Utilities say more than 5,000 homes and businesses are without electricity. Nassau County police say a lightning strike temporarily disabled the 911 system, but the problem has been fixed.

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