According to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the severe downpours that followed a week of fairly constant rain and caused flash flooding in New York City on Friday were a result of climate change and likely reflect a "new normal."

In a statement, the governor expressed Saturday that "Of course, we know, this is the result of climate change. This is unfortunately what we have to expect as the new normal."

New York saw nearly eight inches (20 cm) of rain pour in certain sections of the city, allowing a sea lion at Central Park Zoo to swim momentarily outside the constraints of her pool habitat.

Read more: New York City is sinking due to skyscraper weight, rising sea levels

A state of emergency was announced by Hochul for New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley after warning of "life-threatening" flooding.

She praised the authorities' reaction and remarked that the city saw no fatalities despite the pouring rain.

The flooding has created significant inconveniences and delays for the subway and train systems. Some metro lines were completely shut down, and numerous stops were closed. Some bus lines slowed to a halt, stranding passengers for hours. Some New Yorkers were urged not to travel unless they were escaping a flooded region.

The state of emergency will be in effect for six days.

Hochul also stated that she spoke with the White House and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and that they were prepared to support a federal disaster declaration if required.

Climate protesters take on streets of New York before UNGA summit

On September 18, just before the opening of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), tens of thousands of climate activists walked the streets of New York to urge for increased action against climate change, as they held signs reading "Biden, end fossil fuels," "Fossil fuels are killing us" and "I didn't vote for fires and floods."

"We are here to demand that the administration declare a climate emergency," said Analilia Mejia, director of the activist group Center for Popular Democracy, to AFP adding: "We must wake up and take immediate action".

Released this month, a UN climate report designated 2025 as the deadline for global greenhouse gas emissions to reach the peak and to be followed by a plunge afterward - to remain in conformity with the 2015 Paris Agreement. 

Even though the Agreement helped surge climate action, the report states "much more is needed now on all fronts" to underpin an upcoming significant climate summit in Dubai at the end of this year.

Mejia continued to refer to the fires in Canada, Hawaii, and Greece and flooding in Libya to show an example of the "existential crisis" posed by climate change.