New York, New Jersey Declare Emergencies as Heavy Rain Hits Northeast

State officials warned that extreme weather conditions could trigger landslides, rockslides, and flooded roadways.

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Rainwater pours onto a train carriage in New York City on July 31, 2025, in a still from video. Chantal McLaughlin via Reuters

Several areas in New York and New Jersey were placed under a state of emergency on Thursday as heavy downpours swept the Northeast, with flash flooding expected.

Up to five inches of rain is expected, with the heaviest bands in New York, with rainfall rates potentially exceeding two inches per hour, according to a statement by the governor’s office.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that she was declaring a state of emergency in New York City and the surrounding counties, warning of severe weather expected between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday.

A travel advisory and flood watch have been issued for New York City and will remain in effect until 8 a.m. Friday, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

“Stay where you are if you can. Don’t drive. Roadways are flooding, and crews are responding,” the mayor stated on X. “If you live in a basement apartment, and haven’t yet moved to higher ground, move now.”

Acting New Jersey Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey, effective at 2 p.m., enabling resources to be deployed during the duration of the storm.

Rainfall in New Jersey could total up to three inches, with localized downpours that could produce five to seven inches, according to a statement by her office.

The acting governor warned that extreme weather could trigger landslides, rockslides, and flooded roadways.

“I urge all New Jerseyans to remain alert, follow all safety protocols, and monitor the proper channels for the duration of these storms. Residents should remain off the roads and indoors unless absolutely necessary,” Way stated.

Way, New Jersey’s lieutenant governor, is temporarily serving as the state’s chief executive while Gov. Phil Murphy was out of the state.

Murphy stated on X that a flash flood watch is currently in effect across “all of New Jersey” and urged people to avoid unnecessary travel.

The National Weather Service (NWS) posted flash flood warnings along parts of the northeast urban corridor stretching from the Washington-Baltimore region north through Philadelphia, Wilmington, Delaware, and into Newark, New Jersey, and the New York City metropolitan area.

The NWS Weather Prediction Center on Thursday issued a Level 3 out of 4 risk for excessive rainfall across parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, particularly along the Interstate 95 corridor, from Washington, D.C. to northern New Jersey.

“Localized rainfall totals over 6 inches are possible and could lead to significant urban flash flooding between northern Virginia and northern New Jersey,” it stated on X.

NWS attributed the storm threat to a cold front that was bringing a combination of unstable air mass and exceptional amounts of atmospheric moisture to the region.

Reuters contributed to this report.