Superstorm Elsa hits East Coast

Fast-moving Tropical Storm Elsa hit the New Jersey coast with strong winds on Friday, flooding New York City with rain as it moved powerfully up the east coast of the United States.

The coastal state of New Jersey recorded, during the night, a wind gust of 126 kilometers per hour, in Ludlam Bay.

At about 8am Friday, its epicenter was about 145 kilometers southwest of Montauk Point, New York.

The torrential rains created traffic hazards around New York City, which was already suffering from a flood on Thursday, inundating roads and at least one subway station. There are forecasts of rain in some areas, on Friday.

The storm led to one death in Florida on Wednesday, and Elsa previously caused a devastating hurricane in Georgia.

A tropical storm warning extended Friday morning along parts of the east coast from New Jersey to Massachusetts.

Meteorologists said that "Elsa" was moving toward the northeast at a speed of 50 kilometers per hour.

The hurricane center said 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of rain was expected through Friday in the eastern Mid-Atlantic states and in the New England region.