A state of emergency has been declared in New York and New Jersey as flash flooding hits both states.
The National Weather Service posted flash flood warnings along parts of the Northeast urban corridor stretching from the Washington-Baltimore region north through Philadelphia, Wilmington, Delaware, and into the New York City metropolitan area.
Severe thunderstorm watches were also in effect across much of the Interstate-95 corridor.
Up to five inches (12.7cm) of rain was forecast in the heaviest bands of showers expected across New York City, Long Island and the Hudson River Valley, with rainfall rates that could exceed two inches per hour, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement.
“I am urging all New Yorkers to stay vigilant, stay informed, and use caution as we expect excessive rainfall with the potential for flash flooding,” she added.
New Jersey was bracing for localised downpours of up to seven inches, acting New Jersey Governor Tahesha Way said.
She warned that the extreme rainfall could trigger landslides, rock slides and flash flooding of roadways across New Jersey, with additional hazards posed by damaging winds from thunderstorms.
“Residents should remain off the roads and indoors unless absolutely necessary,” Way, the lieutenant governor, said in a statement.
She is temporarily serving as the state’s chief executive while Governor Phil Murphy was out of the state on vacation with his family.
Airports in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia all reported significant flight delays and cancellations.
Tornado warnings in New Jersey came and went with no reports of twisters, although more than 6,000 electricity customers were without power.
Forecasters said the strongest storms were expected later on Thursday afternoon and evening.
The National Weather Service said heavy to excessive rainfall and potentially severe thunderstorms were expected along the Washington-Philadelphia-New York City corridor.
The weather service issued flash flood warnings early on Thursday afternoon for parts of Berks, Lancaster and York counties in Pennsylvania and parts of Baltimore and Hartford counties in northern Maryland.
The service said flooding was possible in small creeks and streams and urban areas, along with highways, streets, underpasses and in poor-drainage and low-lying areas.
The weather service posted a severe thunderstorm warning for an area of eastern Pennsylvania between Allentown and Reading, saying 60mph wind gusts and penny-size hail were possible.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro posted on social media that state emergency management officials were preparing potential response and recovery efforts.
The Weather Service said the storm threat was owing to a cold front, bringing a combination of unstable air mass and exceptional amounts of atmospheric moisture to the region.
Earlier this month, at least 135 people were killed in flash flooding in Texas.
The disaster is one of the most lethal floods in US history, with authorities vowing to investigate whether enough warnings were issued, and if evacuations were properly carried out.
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