Here Comes Elsa; 'Considerable' Flash Flooding Possible On LI

LONG ISLAND, NY — More than 3,000 PSEG Long Island customers were in the dark Thursday night as another round of thunderstorms pummeled the region. Now comes Elsa.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the entire island with the exception of northern Nassau County. A flash flood watch is in effect until noon Friday for all of Long Island.

Heavy rainfall ahead of Elsa will move into area late Thursday night with periods of heavy rain possible through Friday morning. Total rainfall of 2-4 inches is expected before the storm departs Friday afternoon.

Major rainfall flooding may prompt evacuations and rescues, the National Weather Service says. Streets and parking lots could become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged.

Sustained winds of 35-40 mph with gusts up to 55 mph are possible for a brief time on the island late Thursday night into Friday morning, but the greatest threat from Elsa will come from heavy rainfall.

As of 9 p.m. Thursday, PSEG says 3,217 of its customers are without power after thunderstorms rumbled across the area earlier in the day. All thunderstorm warnings and flood warning associated with those storms have now expired. The island was spared any serious flooding, but the same can't be said for New York City.