New York state has been put on high alert for flash flooding as a slow -moving system is expected to bring widespread heavy rain from Tuesday through Thursday, local reports suggest. According to The New York Post, New York City could get drenched by more than four inches of rain as an “unusually powerful storm” is set to get underway today.
Heavy rainfall has been forecast for NYC metro area, the Hudson Valley, the Catskills, and Central New York, according to the National Weather Service.
Flood watch to go into effect in New York
On Tuesday, a flood watch will go into effect at 8:00 a.m. for the entire tri-state area, with the exception of Suffolk County on Long Island. Tuesday's storms are expected to unleash heavy rainfall at rates of more than 2 inches per hour in NY, raising the risk of isolated flash flooding in low-lying and urban areas.
Timing of Tuesday’s storms will be from mid to late-morning through mid-evening. Storms will be possible again Wednesday, but they won’t be as intense or widespread.
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“It looks like it is going to be an unusually powerful storm for this time of year. Usually, you don’t get a developing low pressure in the Northeast in the late part of July,” senior AccuWeather Meteorologist Matt Rinde told The NY Post. “It’s something that you’d see more toward the fall months, so that is an unusual aspect of the storm.
Heavy rainfall in New York on Tuesday
There are chances of heavy showers from Tuesday afternoon that might continue into the evening and early Wednesday morning. There might be a chance of localized flooding across the Big Apple.
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“Part of the challenge with this storm will be that at some point it is going to kind of pivot. And when it does that, it is going to produce a band of rain that is likely to hold over an area for a longer period of time,” Rinde added.
Damaging wind gusts of 25 to 30 miles per hour may also batter the city, downing power lines and trees, the National Weather Service said.
The “gustier winds” are expected when the storm starts on Tuesday, but the risk will drop off into Tuesday night and Wednesday, according to Rinde. New Yorkers should avoid walking or driving through floodwaters, and basement-dwellers should prepare by knowing their exits and being ready to move to a higher floor, New York City Emergency Management warned in a post on X.
NYC and Lower Hudson Valley weather forecast
Tuesday : Showers and thunderstorms will develop in the afternoon and evening, bringing torrential rain, damaging wind gusts and frequent lightning. Rainfall rates could exceed 2 inches per hour, raising the risk of flash flooding in New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley.
Wednesday: Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue, with additional flooding possible in low-lying and urban areas before conditions gradually improve later in the day.
Thursday through Sunday: The weather turns quieter, with only isolated showers on Thursday and Friday. Saturday is expected to be warm and mainly dry, while a few morning showers are possible on Sunday before skies gradually clear.
