Weather Alert Issued For NYC As Friday Night Thunderstorms Expected to Hit the City
New York City Emergency Management is advising New Yorkers to prepare for possible strong thunderstorms and gusty winds Friday evening, based on the latest National Weather Service (NWS) forecast.
Winds are expected to pick up between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. ahead of a cold front, with heavy rain showers and scattered thunderstorms forecast to move through the city between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. New York City is under a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe storms from 8 a.m. Friday through 8 a.m. Saturday. Lingering drizzle and light showers are expected early Saturday morning, with conditions drying out after 8 a.m.
“If you have Friday evening plans, give yourself a little extra time and try to be indoors when the storms come in,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell. “Tonight’s storms are expected to move in quickly with the cold front, and the forecast shows gusts of 40 to 60 mph are possible. Leaves can clog catch basins this time of year, so keep an eye out for puddles on the roads on your way home.”
Rainfall totals of 0.2 to 0.4 inches are most likely, with 0.5 to 0.75 inches possible locally in thunderstorms. Rainfall rates are expected to stay below 0.2 inches per hour overall, with brief rates of 0.5 to 1 inch per hour possible during thunderstorms. Excessive rainfall is not expected, but fallen leaves clogging catch basins could cause ponding on roadways and highly localized flooding during heavy rain. The primary hazard is thunderstorm wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph, which could bring down tree branches. The line of storms is expected to weaken as it moves from west to east, with the highest chance of severe weather over western parts of the city.
Gusty northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph, with frequent gusts of 30 to 35 mph, are expected to continue Saturday morning and into the early afternoon. Temperatures are expected to turn much cooler, with highs in the mid-50s, lows around 40 degrees, and wind chills in the mid-30s. Winds are expected to ease Sunday, with highs in the upper 50s.