Storm Elsa soaks US East Coast, heads towards Boston, Canada

Tropical Storm Elsa floods at least one New York City subway station as heavy rains create traffic hazards.

Fast-moving Tropical Storm Elsa hit the New York City region with torrential rains and high winds as it churned up the East Coast on Friday with a tropical storm warning in effect from Southern New Jersey to Boston. Maximum sustained winds from the storm peaked near 85 kph (50 mph) as it moved through New York City and Long Island, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an 8am [1200 GMT] update. Wind speeds had ticked down from overnight readings as high as 126 kph (78 mph) in coastal New Jersey that appeared to be “associated with nearby tornadoes”, the center reported.