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.

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“I will be declaring a State of Emergency for New York City and the surrounding counties,” Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) posted on X. “Heavy rain and potential flooding are expected to affect the evening commute. Employers are encouraged to dismiss employees early. Continue to monitor your local forecasts, and stay safe.”

Acting New Jersey Gov. Tahesha Way also announced a state of emergency for all of New Jersey, with the possibility of up to 7 inches of rain in portions of the state.

“Beginning this afternoon, we are expecting severe thunderstorms to bring heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts with the potential for flash flooding across the state,” Way said in a statement. “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.”

The warnings come as most of the upper East Coast braces for thunderstorms. Parts of Maryland, New Jersey, Washington D.C., and northern Virginia are at “moderate” risk of flash flooding, while New York has a “slight” chance.

Commuters could see travel delays in the air, on roads, and on railroads because of the storms.

Richard Bann, a meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center, said the weather front came about because it was interacting with air that was especially warm, humid, and unstable for this time of year.

“That’s going to allow the storms to become stronger,” he told the New York Times. “With some very intense rainfall rates, upward of 2 inches per hour.”

DC BRACES FOR INTENSIFYING HEAT WAVE

The weather will also have a profound effect on the Washington, D.C., area.

The Capital Weather Gang of the Washington Post said the storm would occur in the area between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. and could drop up to 3 inches of rain an hour, leading to a “serious” flash flood threat, possibly making the evening commute dangerous.