New York City, New Jersey declare emergencies as torrential rain pounds Northeast

New York City and New Jersey are under states of emergencies as torrential rain pounds the Northeast on Thursday afternoon.

A level 3 out of 4 threat for flash flooding is in effect in New York City, parts of Long Island, the lower Hudson Valley, southwest Connecticut, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. A severe thunderstorm watch has also been issued.

Al Bello/Getty Images - PHOTO: Detective Felipe Ortiz of the New York Police Department stands on the field during a rain delay between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium, July 31, 2025, in New York.

Heavy storms could lead to rainfall rates of up to 3 inches per hour. Some of the most intense downpours could drop 2 inches or rain in just 30 minutes.

Widespread rain totals are forecast to be 1 to 3 inches, but the heaviest storms could bring 5 to 8 inches of rain to isolated areas. Damaging wind gusts up to 65 mph, lightning and some hail are also possible.

ABC News - PHOTO: Much of the Northeast is facing a flash flooding threat on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

Some of the heaviest rain may fall during the late afternoon rush hour, and the heavy rain could continue well into the evening.

New York Gov. Kathy Hocul announced a state of emergency for New York City and the surrounding counties, and New York City officials issued a travel advisory for Thursday and Friday.

Gary Hershorn/ABC News - PHOTO: A thunderstorm passes over lower Manhattan in New York City, July 31, 2025.

"Be prepared for a serious storm," Mayor Eric Adams warned on social media on Thursday.

"Avoid traveling if you can, and set up any flood prevention tools in advance," he said.

The heavy rain closed the Clearview Expressway, the NYPD said, and suspended some service on the Long Island Rail Road.

New Jersey is also under a state of emergency.

"Residents should remain off the roads and indoors unless absolutely necessary," acting Gov. Tahesha Way said in a statement.

More than 1,200 flights have been canceled in the U.S. on Thursday, with New York City's airports and D.C.'s Reagan National Airport seeing the biggest impacts.

And in the West, residents of Ruidoso, New Mexico have endured the fourth flash flood event of the month. The Ruidoso Downs Racetrack overflowed and the Rio Ruidoso river at Hollywood crested at 9.4 feet.

More downpours are possible in the area on Thursday night and Friday night.

Meanwhile, more than 50 million Americans across 11 states are under heat alerts as dangerously high temperatures hit the South.

An extreme heat warning remains in effect for the lower Mississippi River Valley on Thursday. Heat indices -- what temperature it feels like with humidity -- could reach 110 to 120 degrees in Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

ABC News - PHOTO: Feels-Like Temperature - Thursday Map

Over the weekend, the Southwest will feel the heat. In Arizona, Phoenix and Tucson are under extreme heat warnings as temperatures without humidity could reach 105 to 114 degrees.