Torrential downpours after a week of mostly steady rainfall triggered flash flooding in New York City on Friday, disrupting subway service in the most populous U.S. city and turning some streets into small lakes.

A flash flood warning was in effect for New York City until midday, with as much as 6 inches (15 cm) of rain falling in some locations, including Brooklyn, lower Manhattan and John F. Kennedy International Airport in the borough of Queens, said Zack Taylor of the National Weather Service.

Across the region, another 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm)of rain could fall throughout the day and into the night, but some locations could see even more, said Taylor, a meteorologist with the service’s Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland

“This is seriously a life-threatening situation,” he said.

Taylor warned against travel until the weather system pulls away from the coast later on Friday evening.

The extreme rainfall prompted New York Governor Kathy to declare a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.

Flooding caused major disruptions to New York’s subway system and the Metro North commuter rail service, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Agency. Some subway lines were suspended entirely, including the G, which connects Brooklyn and Queens, and many stations were closed.

In New York, intermittent rain this week further saturated the ground, setting up conditions conducive to flash flooding.

New York stunned and swamped by record-breaking rainfall as more downpours are expected

One of New York’s wettest days in decades left the metropolitan area stunned and swamped Friday after heavy rainfall knocked out several subway and commuter rail lines, stranded drivers on highways, flooded basements and shuttered a terminal at LaGuardia Airport for hours.

Some 8.65 inches (21.97 centimeters) of rain had fallen at John F. Kennedy Airport by nightfall Friday, surpassing the record for any September day set during Hurricane Donna in 1960, the National Weather Service said.

Parts of Brooklyn saw more than 7.25 inches (18.41 centimeters), with at least one spot recording 2.5 inches (6 centimeters) in a single hour, according to weather and city officials.

More downpours were expected Saturday.

Britain has designated a plan to build a subsea cable carrying renewable energy from Morocco as a project of “national significance”, which could help smooth planning hurdles.

Xlinks, a company chaired by former Tesco (TSCO.L) chief executive Dave Lewis, wants to build 3,800 kilometres (2361.21 miles) of subsea cables to supply solar and wind power from the Sahara to 7 million British homes by 2030.

While Xlinks called the government’s recognition of its project “a major milestone”, many challenges remain.

As well as needing to build the world’s longest high-voltage direct current subsea cable, Xlinks needs to secure more funding, agree long-term pricing contracts, and be granted permission to run through Spanish and French waters.

The estimated cost is between 20 billion pounds ($24.47 billion) and 22 billion pounds, Lewis told the Financial Times.

Xlinks said that the project would create nearly 10,000 jobs in Morocco, of which 2,000 will become permanent, and that it was consistent with the country’s energy export strategy.

New UK energy security and net zero minister Claire Coutinho said in a statement the project was nationally significant because of its potential to help Britain ditch fossil fuels.

“The proposed project could play an important role in enabling an energy system that meets the UK’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions and the government’s objectives to create a secure, reliable and affordable energy supply for consumers,” the statement said.

Under the national significance designation for the Xlinks cables, which would come onshore in south west England, the infrastructure needed would be approved by the government, instead of local authorities.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s strategy to meet Britain’s net zero emissions target has come under intense scrutiny after he watered down targets on banning new petrol cars, and after the government was accused of offering insufficient subsidies to developers of domestic offshore wind farms.

Earlier this week, the government approved the development of its biggest new North Sea oilfield in years, citing a need to improve energy security.

The Devon House Heritage Site is a national monument and an old historic landmark which is located in the central part of the capital city of the Caribbean island nation of Jamaica, Kingston.

Built in 1881 as a mansion for Jamaica’s first black millionaire, George Stiebel, this nowadays 4 hectares (11 acres) landmark is settled with plenty of lush, sprawling lawns which provide a unique ambience which helps visitors to feel as calm as possible while visiting it.

The mansion itself is a mesmerizing blend of Caribbean and Georgian architecture that is easily distinguishable from other structures in Jamaica.

Unfortunately, in 1923 the mansion had to be sold to Reginald Melhado, however, it was sold with the 4 hectares (11 acres) lawns that we are able to see today, from the original 21 hectares (51 acres), which were later used to construct the Waterloo and Devon Roads.

Later in 1928, the mansion was sold once again to the businessman Cecil Lindo who had investments in the alcohol industry, and after his death in 1960, his wife left the Devon House vacant.

There were some serious plans for demolition of this grandiose marvel, and when the then Minister of Welfare and Development, the Hon.

Edward Seaga, became aware of these plans, the Government acted quickly and purchased it under the National Trust Act. After years of restoration that began in 1965 under the supervision of architect Tom Concannon, assisted by Raymond McIntyre, and once again in 1974 in the Victorian style, it was back then when the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon. Michael Manley opened Devon House as the National Gallery.

Later in 1982, the entire mansion was completely refurbished with the assistance of Tom Concannon, and it was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who admired its unique and amazing style.

Becoming officially a National Monument by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust in 1990, nowadays, the Devon House Heritage Site is the perfect place where locals and tourists can get a closer look of the long standing Jamaican history.

As there are a gastronomy center and place where visitors can enjoy quite nice locally made ice cream, visiting Devon House is something which will not bring regrets to anyone who decides to see Jamaica’s historic side that secretly hides in the green, lush lawns that are tucked away in the capital city of Jamaica, Kingston.

Maintenance issues and climate change-induced water shortages have caused a 400-megawatt electricity shortfall in Tanzania, triggering power rationing across the East African nation, the state power supplier said.

Tanzania’s national grid, which has an installed capacity of more than 1,900 MW, was suffering from broken infrastructure at gas wells and gas-fired power stations, as well as reduced water levels at hydropower dams, said Gissima Nyamo-Hanga, managing director of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO).

TANESCO, which is wholly owned by the government, expects to complete maintenance operations and resolve the shortfall by the end of March next year, Nyamo-Hanga told reporters late on Wednesday.

Despite the government embarking on one of the fastest roll-outs of electricity access in Sub-Saharan Africa, only 38% of Tanzanians have power, according to the World Bank.

Nearly two thirds of Tanzania’s electricity is generated from natural gas, and around 30% from hydropower. The largest peak electricity demand ever recorded was 1,431 MW in May this year, up 7% from a year before, the energy ministry says.

“We expect that this problem will start easing within two weeks, and our plan is to reduce the shortage by an average of 100 MW a month,” Nyamo-Hanga said.

The 2,115 MW Julius Nyerere hydropower dam started filling with water in December last year and is anticipated to be finished by June 2024, more than doubling the country’s installed capacity, according to the energy ministry.

The government is engaged in several other power projects including a 150 MW solar farm as part of its goal to reach 5,000 MW capacity by 2025.

Brazil’s government is preparing a task force to provide emergency assistance to inhabitants in the Amazon region hit by a severe drought that has impacted the rivers that are their life support, Environment Minister Marina Silva said.

Low river levels and hotter waters have killed masses of fish seen floating on river surfaces, contaminating the drinking water, she said.

Some 111,000 people have been affected in a region where a much of the population’s protein comes from fishing, which will be suspended for some time, she added.

The civil defense agency warned that the drought could eventually impact up to 500,000 people in the Amazon.

The Port of Manaus website said the Rio Negro’s water level fell by an average of 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) a day since mid-September and stood at 16.4 meters (54 feet) on Wednesday, about six meters below its level on the same day of last year.

The federal task force would be airlifted by the Air Force to the states of Amazonas and Acre with water, food, medicines and other resources, Silva said.

The government also allocated 140 million reais ($27.76 million) to dredging rivers and ports in the region to keep transport flowing when water levels drop, she added.

The drought in the Amazon, like the flooding in the south of Brazil, results from the El Niño phenomenon, which warms the surface water in the Pacific Ocean. This year the impact has been greater than normal, weather experts say.

Heavy rain from a tropical depression hit northern and north-central Vietnam, causing flooding that halted traffic in the capital Hanoi and sparked warnings of landslides on Thursday.

Some Hanoi districts recorded up to 250 mm (10 inches) of rain on Thursday morning, according to the national weather centre.

The premier’s office directed provincial authorities to take action to protect residential areas that faced a high risk of landslides and flash floods.

Downpours have pounded Hanoi since early Thursday morning, submerging streets, Reuters witnesses said, with traffic turning chaotic at intersections and flood waters rising calf-high in some districts.

Video on local media showed cars and motorcycles abandoned in Hanoi streets, while footage of northern provinces showed fast-flowing, mud-brown water, and schools and homes damaged and soaked in flood water.

A conference on Thursday morning organised by Eurocham was delayed by about two hours because speakers, including the EU ambassador to Vietnam, could not reach the venue due to the flooded roads, according to participants.

Vietnam is prone to destructive storms and flooding, with 451 people killed or missing last year in natural disasters such as floods and landslides, according to government statistics.