Get ready for a drenching on Friday: Tropical Storm Elsa is expected to hit New Jersey, New York City, and Long Island early in the morning, bringing anywhere from an inch to over three inches of rain. Update, 2:24 p.m.: NYC is now under a "severe thunderstorm watch" [more details below].
Most of the rainfall is expected between 2 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Friday, and the National Weather Service warns there could be flash flooding. A tropical storm warning was issued for New Jersey—which already had power outages and downed trees from Tuesday's storm—and Long Island.
Additionally, Thursday afternoon may see severe thunderstorms and, the NWS added, "An isolated tornado is possible."
Elsa's winds have weakened to 40 mph, but could regain strength as the storm moves northeast. One person was killed by the storm in Florida. Some Southern states have been under tornado warnings and a tornado appears to have hit an RV park in Georgia.
Update 2:24 p.m.: The NWS has now placed NYC under a "severe thunderstorm watch" until 9 p.m. Thursday, with the possibility of tornados, hail, and wind gusts up to 70 mph.
Update, 5:14 p.m.: The Major Deegan Expressway is a mess.
