Timing out when rain and wind hit the NYC area today. Get the First Alert Weather Day forecast.
NEW YORK — Heavy rain and strong winds are rolling into New York and New Jersey today, prompting a First Alert Weather Day.
The rain will come down heavy, at times, and because of the duration of this event, we've got rain for the better part of the next 12 hours. It will be with us from time to time, not raining every minute of the day, but there will be occasional bouts to exacerbate the flooding issues, especially across Long Island. Those areas have already picked up about 1.5 inches of rain with 1 to 2 more inches on the way. The worst of it looks to come through as a squall line this afternoon.
To add insult to injury, we're expecting powerful winds in and around New York City and across Long Island. That said, the National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for the city and high wind warning on Long Island from noon until 10 p.m.
Another side of the story will be the record-challenging temperatures, with highs in the 50s and 60s. In Central Park, we're going for about 62 degrees, which is normal for April.
Once the rain exits this evening, it's going to be all about the chill, as temperatures crash into the 30s and 20s by daybreak. That's before you factor in the winds, which will make it feel like the 20s and even teens north and west.
By tomorrow, it's back to reality, with highs in the 30s, blustery conditions and wind chills stuck in the 20s all day.
Storm timeline for New York, New Jersey
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Wednesday: Waves of heavier rain arrive. First potential squall line forms south of New York City. Possible embedded thunderstorms on the table, and the rapid downpours could trigger some potential flooding. Urban areas and those with poor drainage will be affected. Winds: 35-45 mph. High temp: 62 in New York City.
1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Wednesday: The worst of it. A nearly vertically stacked line of storms passes across the Tri-State. Waves of downpours, flooding likely, wind damage possible. The winds really kick in during this time. The squall line is thin but dangerous. Wind gusts: 50-60 mph, especially along the New Jersey coastline and Long island. Rainfall: 1 - 1.5 inches by this time.
7 p.m. Wednesday - 3 a.m. Thursday: The line races across Long Island hammering to the east end before heading to sea. Rainfall continues to fall across much of the area, and now with the front behind us, temperatures start their drop. We could see some snow well north and west by this time, with minor snow accumulations possible, and the winds shift west and lower. We're still talking gusts over 35 mph which will drive the feels-like temperature down into the 20s to start Thursday. Wind: 25-40 mph. Rainfall: 2-3, 4+ inches possible.
Stick with our First Alert Weather team for the latest forecast, live radar and weather alerts.