5 people dead as severe storms lash Northeast

May 16 (UPI) -- Five people have been killed in severe thunderstorms, flash flooding, hail and winds as strong as 80 mph in the Northeast, officials said.

Two people died in New York state, including an 11-year-old girl, when trees fell. Two died in Connecticut and one man in Pennsylvania. All the deaths were storm related.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo late Tuesday declared an emergency in several counties and deployed members of the New York National Guard to assist with recovery operations.

"There is still a lot of damage from the storms that rolled across the region yesterday," The National Weather Service in New York said in a tweet Wednesday. "Remember to stay away and not touch any downed wires. They could be live."

Although the storms have passed, forecasters said the risk of flooding will continue into Wednesday.

Areas from Virginia up into Southern New Jersey could see anywhere between 4 to 8 inches of rainfall, with localized amounts exceeding 10 inches.

Much of the east coast from North Georgia up through Pennsylvania and New Jersey will likewise see rain in the next three days.

Utilities are working to restore power to nearly 360,000 people in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

The weather also stranded thousands of commuters Tuesday in Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal after all of the Metro-North rail lines were suspended due to downed trees on the tracks.

Nickel to golf ball-sized hail and a possible tornado were also reported from southern Massachusetts through Pennsylvania and into parts of Virginia. In Maryland, more than 60 water rescues were reported in Frederick County after over 6 inches of rain fell Tuesday.