The rain fell in two waves, said Gov. Phil Murphy, with the first knocking communities 'off kilter' and the second 'came in for the kill.'

Heavy rain swept across New York City and the Tri-State area on Monday night, inundating the region with flash flooding that stranded vehicles in roadways, closed subway lines and led to the declaration of states of emergency.

Authorities in Plainfield, New Jersey, report that two people have died after their vehicle was swept away by floodwaters during an intense storm on Monday.

It wasn't clear if anyone was believed to be missing in the aftermath. Monday's storms were the second to turn deadly in the Garden State this month. Early in July, three people died when thunderstorms felled trees. Two of them were from Plainfield.

Storms prompted flash flood warnings across the New York City metropolitan area Monday night, with photos showing severe flooding across the city and in parts of New York state and New Jersey.

Flash flood warnings were issued by the National Weather service Monday night as heavy storms rolled into the area. Flood warnings were issued for Morris, Warren, Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Hudson, Passaic, Middlesex, Somerset and Union Counties, according to the National Weather Service.

Thousands across New Jersey lost power Monday, July 14, as severe storms blew through the region, toppling trees and knocking down wires.More than 4,600 customers were in the dark as of 6:45 p.m., utility officials said.

More severe storms are possible Thursday in New Jersey after a tornado warning was issued in Atlantic and Ocean counties on Wednesday night. The National Weather Service said a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located northeast of Atlantic City at 11:16 p.