Elsa gets downgraded but still hits Northeast with rains and wind

All storm warnings have been discontinued for the New England coast, the National Hurricane Center said in its final advisory on Elsa, though some parts of the Northeast are in for some heavy rain Friday evening.

Elsa already has brought heavy rain, gusty winds and a tornado threat to the region.

The storm was about 65 miles southeast of Portland, Maine, early Friday evening, or 90 miles east-northeast of Boston. It is expected to move offshore through the evening.

Coastal Maine may get as much as 6 inches of rain in some areas, and flash and urban flooding are possible, the center said. Earlier, flash flood watches had been posted for about 20 million people.

Sustained winds remain as high as 50 mph with higher gusts, the hurricane center said. “Gradual weakening is forecast to occur over the weekend,” the advisory reads.

Elsa previously caused tornadoes and injuries in the Southeast and at least one death in Florida this week.

In New York, roads and subways looked “straight out of a disaster movie Thursday,” CNN affiliate WCBS reported. Cell phone video showed waist-high water at at station at 157th Street.

The flooding was caused by storms that preceded Elsa hitting the city, CNN meteorologist Monica Garrett said.

Water streamed down the steps of 149th Street station in the Bronx Thursday evening, video posted by William Ferrante showed.