NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — Heavy rain is expected to soak NYC Wednesday through Thursday morning, sparking a Flood Watch for much of the area and previewing another round of showers that will come this weekend.
Heavy rain began Wednesday afternoon and will continue into Wednesday night, AccuWeather said. The high will be 54, with temperatures dropping slightly due to the precipitation and reaching a low of 47.
NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM) issued a travel advisory for heavy rain and flooding, while the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Flood Watch in the city from 1 p.m. Wednesday until 6 a.m. Thursday. The Flood Watch impacts much of the metro area, including all of Long Island and a swath of North Jersey, the Lower Hudson Valley and Connecticut.
A total of 1.5 to 3 inches of rain is projected, with much of the rainfall coming down between 3 p.m. and midnight, NYCEM said. A rate of 1 inch per hour is possible, but extreme rates are not expected.
AccuWeather said to expect flooding on roads, sidewalks and areas of poor drainage, and to watch for rising streams and creeks.
NYCEM has activated its Flash Flood Emergency Plan, which includes collaboration with the NWS to monitor conditions and sending agency crews to the ground to clear catch basins in neighborhoods vulnerable to flooding.
NYCEM Commissioner Zach Iscol said in a statement, “Our primary concern is the afternoon and evening, where several hours of moderate to heavy rain will be possible, particularly during the commute. While major impacts are not expected, I want to stress the critical need for all New Yorkers, especially those in low-lying and flood-prone areas, including below-grade living spaces, to take precautions."
City agencies are not anticipating other hazards due to milder storm conditions, with mild temperatures and winds only reaching 10-15 mph on Wednesday and 20-25 mph on a breezier Thursday.
Thursday will also be chillier than Wednesday, with some bits of rain and drizzle throughout the day and a high of 51. RealFeels, however, will be no higher than 40 much of the day, according to AccuWeather.
Sunshine will break the rain on Friday, with a high of 55 and a milder afternoon, before it becomes cloudy, breezy and chillier on Saturday, AccuWeather said.
Saturday will see periods of rain from the afternoon through the night at a high of 47, ringing in a windy, chilly and damp Sunday morning that will lead into spotty afternoon showers.
Sunday’s high will be 52, but RealFeels will not surpass the 40s, according to AccuWeather.
