NY, New Jersey declare state of emergency as heavy rain lashes U.S. East Coast

1/8/2025 16:49

The U.S. states of New York and New Jersey on Thursday declared a state of emergency for areas under flash flood warnings, as heavy rain slammed the East Coast, threatened roads and disrupted air travel.



The National Weather Service said that heavy to excessive rainfall and potentially severe thunderstorms were expected along the Washington-Philadelphia-New York City corridor later Thursday afternoon and night. Some areas in the southern part of the region could see rainfall rates of 2 inches (5.08 cm) per hour.



"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," New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement.



New York City Mayor Eric Adams and other local officials called on people to stay off the roads and urged residents in basement apartments to move to higher locations.



Air travel was disrupted due to heavy storms Thursday evening, with ground stops in effect at several major airports in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. area, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.