New Jersey environmental regulators are amending a proposal that has faced harsh criticism from builders and the business community.

New Jersey's governor declared a state of emergency after heavy rains pounded the Northeast. New York City also warned residents of basement apartments to prepare for possible evacuations.

Parts of New York City and Northern New Jersey were inundated on Monday night as widespread thunderstorms moved through.

Flood watches have been issued in NJ with high heat along with the humidity expected to rise. See timing, heat index values, rain forecast and more.

Flash flood warnings were issued by the National Weather service Monday night as heavy storms rolled into the area. Flood warnings were issued for Morris, Warren, Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Hudson, Passaic, Middlesex, Somerset and Union Counties, according to the National Weather Service.

Severe flash flooding across the tri-state area on Monday caused subway delays and road closures across the Big Apple and pushed New Jersey to declare a state of emergency. All five boroughs and Nassau County are under a flash flood warning through midnight.

Statewide, rain totals ranged from .11 inches in Hamilton, Mercer County to 6.64 inches in Clark and 6.24 inches in Westfield.

The National Weather Service has issued flash flood watches for parts of 17 New Jersey counties on Monday to start a stormy week.