Flash flood warnings have been declared for parts of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland amid forecasts for severe thunderstorms and heavy rain Thursday. Newsweek's live blog is closed.

The New York City area and New Jersey declared states of emergency Thursday as heavy rain with the potential for flash floods approached the region. Weather is expected to dump several inches of rain in the New York-New Jersey areas as residents make their evening commutes home.

New York Mayor Eric Adams declared a local state of emergency until tomorrow morning because of heavy rain and flooding, and he warned those in baseme