Severe weather, flooding threat hits Northeast: Forecast

More than 38 million people from New York City to Washington, D.C., could face severe weather on Thursday afternoon and evening, including flash flooding, damaging winds, large hail and possible tornadoes.

The threat covers a wide swath of the Northeast, stretching from Syracuse, New York, and Vermont down to Virginia.

Along the Interstate 95 corridor from New York City to D.C., rainfall rates could top 2 inches per hour and rain totals could reach 5 inches in some areas.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect in New Jersey, New York City, parts of Long Island, Philadelphia, and Dover, Delaware, through 8 p.m. A flood watch is also in effect for the region.

The weather may cause flight disruptions at New York City's John F. Kennedy Airport, airport officials warned. At nearby LaGuardia Airport, over 100 flights have been canceled and more than 200 have been delayed.