Heavy rain that may cause flooding is expected both Thursday and Friday. The potential for the severe storms has prompted state of emergency declarations in parts of New York and New Jersey, effective early Thursday afternoon.

New Yorkers are being warned to brace for intense thunderstorms and flash flooding come Thursday afternoon — with as much as 5 inches of rain expected in a matter of hours during evening rush hour. The city’s emergency management agency urged people to avoid travel over the next 24 hours after the National Weather Service blasted out a flood watch for the region from Thursday at 2 p.