Strong rain storms lashed the East Coast Thursday, flooding a New York City highway and other roads and prompting a Long Island, New York, official to plead with people to say home. New York City authorities said the Clearview Expressway in the borough of Queens was closed in both directions and social media posts showed high

Most of the rain is forecast to fall in as little as 3-6 hours. A small chance of heavier rain and flooding could pose "an elevated threat to life and cause significant disruptions to transportation, flood underground infrastructure and basements and first floors of residences and businesses," with water rescues needed, the weather service said.