Videos Show New York, New Jersey Under Water as Hurricane Henri Bears Down

Dramatic videos have shown major flooding in New York and New Jersey sparked by Hurricane Henri's torrential downpour.

Category 1 Hurricane Henri unleashed heavy rain on the Northeast early this morning as it continues to barrel north towards the region.

The widespread threat from the storm, which has maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, has seen numerous flash flood warnings being issued across New York and New Jersey.

But, videos shared on social media platform Twitter have already captured the devastating effect of Hurricane Henri before the major storm has even made landfall.

One alarming clip, taken at 4th Avenue. Park Slope, in Brooklyn, showed cars, some of which appeared to have been abandoned, surrounded by knee-high floodwater in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Another video shot in a street in Newark around the same time saw at least three drivers trying to slowly push through the water as rain continued to lash down.

A cascade of rainwater was seen rushing down the steps on Eastern Parkway, behind the Brooklyn Library, before it flowed onto a nearby street late on Saturday night.

The shocking scenes all happened before Hurricane Henri is expected to make landfall at around midday.

Should Henri hit Long Island it would be the first time a hurricane has struck since Gloria unleashed devastation on the region in 1985.

A National Hurricane Center update on Hurricane Henri issued late on Saturday read: "Heavy rainfall may lead to considerable flash, urban, and small stream flooding, along with the potential for widespread minor to isolated moderate river flooding over portions of Long Island, New England, eastern New York and New Jersey."

It added: "Swells from Henri will continue to affect much of the east coast of the U.S. during the next day or two. These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents."

Concerns over the impact Hurricane Henri could unleash forced New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio to issue a warning to citizens and implore them to stay inside during the storm.

Speaking during a Saturday press briefing about Hurricane Henri, De Blasio said: "Right now, from what we're hearing, the real impacts are tomorrow but we want to start warning people now, we want you to make your plans the right way, to really minimize activity tomorrow to the maximum extent possible.

"Stay off the roads, stay indoors, there's going to be heavy winds, a lot of rain, we could definitely be seeing some trees falling down. We need people to be safe so I'm telling you now so you can alter your plans, prepare your plans for tomorrow."

Mayor De Blasio continued: "Stay in, to the maximum extent possible."

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker also warned tourists to leave the state as New England braces for its first hurricane in around 30 years.

On Friday, Gov. Baker urged tourists to leave or delay their travels to the journey and said: "We don't want people to be stuck in traffic on the Cape Cod bridges when the storm is in full force on Sunday."