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.

Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency for several New York counties for heavy rain and potential flooding.

New York City officials said they are investigating a cluster of Legionnaires' disease that has caused one death and nearly two dozen illnesses.

One person is dead and at least 22 people have become sick from a Legionnaires’ disease cluster in New York City since last Friday, health officials said.

At least 22 people have fallen ill, including one person who has died, from Legionnaires’ disease in New York City over the last two weeks, according to the city’s health department. City health officials believe that the people most likely became ill after breathing in bacteria sprayed from a cooling tower in central Harlem.