You wetter believe it’s awful out

YOU KNOW IT’S bad when somebody from England complains about the rain in New York City.

Gotham got doused for the second straight day by sheets of rain Monday that turned some streets into rivers, forced officials to extend the flash flood watch until Tuesday, and made getting around town a soggy slog.

“This is even worse than it is back home in Manchester,” said Andrew Doherty, 45, referring to his English hometown and wearing a green plastic poncho against the elements.

“We’re not going let it dampen our spirits, though, because we’ve come a long way,” said Doherty, in town for a week’s vacation.

Sadly for Doherty, the rain is likely to stick around for much of his stay.

“It’s going to continue until tomorrow evening,” said meteorologist Faye Barthold of the National Weather Service. “The rain should start to taper off Tuesday afternoon, about 3 or 4.”

The mercury will struggle to go above the 50s on Tuesday, “and there is a chance of more showers toward the end of the week,” Barthold said.

At some points Monday, between a half-inch and threequarters of an inch of rain per hour fell on the city, officials said.

Manhattan nanny Wendy Romain made the mistake of leaving home without an umbrella.

“This is not my day,” said Romain, 35, as she pushed a stroller bearing her young charge Nick to the pool for his swimming lesson.

Thanks to the weather, 70-year-old Mohammed Kahayel was one lonely hot dog vendor. All he could do was shiver at his stand near City Hall.

“No business today,” said Kahayel, who was dressed on the first day of June in a thick sweater, a hoodie and sports jacket. “A lot of rain and no people come.”

With more heavy rain in the forecast for Tuesday, the Fire Department warned motorists to drive extra carefully during downpours — and to avoid low-lying areas if possible.