Storm Ida has debuted as one of the worst Atlantic systems of 2021, making its first stop at the Gulf Coast. Ida gathered hurricane speeds on the approach to Cuba over the weekend and collided with the mainland US via Louisiana and Mississippi on Sunday. The system left behind a trail of devastation stretching from the southern states to New York, where people have compared flooding scenes to those from a disaster film.

       New Yorkers woke up to several feet of water cascading over city streets as flash flooding stretched across the state into neighbouring New Jersey and beyond.

       Ida struck the city with 8cm of rain (three inches) in an hour last night, raising water to knee-high levels.

       New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the storm, which also whipped up tornados, a "historic weather event".

       And locals have posted scenes on social media showing submerged cars alongside stills from the disaster film "The Day After Tomorrow", highlighting grim similarities.

       READ MORE: New York floods: Residents stranded as water rips through apartments

       The National Weather Service (NWS) has released warnings across several New York City regions and the US northeast.

       A "flood emergency" warning now covers areas in the US northeast from Massachusetts and Rhode Island to Brooklyn and Long Island.

       The NWS has factored the former two areas into a tornado warning.

       The NWS flood emergency, which the service reserves for "exceedingly rare situations", suggests "catastrophic damage" will follow "danger to life".

       Local news reports state the storms have killed nine people in New York City so far.

       Waters killed people trapped in basements, while New Jersey authorities found the body of a man in his 70s in a car swept away by flood currents.

       Among the victims in New York was a two-year-old boy, according to NBC news.

       Excessive structural damage has spread elsewhere, and the New York City subway has shut down.

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       Mark Levine, a council member for the city's seventh district, revealed every subway station has now suspended service.

       He announced the news via Twitter and blamed climate change for the deluge.

       Mr Levin wrote: "Every single subway line in NYC is now shutdown due to the storm. The entire system.

       "We are BEYOND not ready for climate change."

       Many others - including locals and those watching from afar - have taken to social media to speak of the emergency.

       One Twitter user said: "The flooding in NYC is the worst I’ve ever seen. Trash is swimming down the streets. Cars are broken down.

       "Most basements are flooded. Pedestrians are walking in thigh-high water. Fire trucks are unable to move."

       Another added: "The flooding in New York City is hard to fathom. There will likely be billions of dollars in damage."