First Alert Weather: Red Alert in New York and New Jersey for soaking rain and strong winds

NEW YORK -- The Tri-State Area will be on Red Alert on Wednesday as a major coastal low passes through the region.

Tuesday featured a full day of dreary and raw conditions, but going forward the dynamics will be wound up and some powerful winds will be unleashed. There will also be flood risks from excessive rainfall, coastal flood alerts, winter alerts to the north, and eyes should be on sensitive rivers for possible swelling on Thursday and Friday.

Timing: There will be a lull Tuesday night before more waves of rain arrive after midnight. Expect the on-and-off nature of the system to continue throughout most of Wednesday.

Peak or brunt: Wednesday from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m., with lingering bands out east until 9 p.m. Wednesday afternoon and evening will feature more widespread and more frequent bouts of heavy rain, resulting in a tough evening commute.

The storm will wind down after 9 p.m., but we still must watch our vulnerable coast and shoreline roads for flooding during the overnight hours and Thursday's high tide cycles.

The National Weather Service has really ramped up its language regarding the coastal flood threat. Places like Freeport, Jamaica Bay, small back bays and adjacent roads around the boroughs are all at risk. A potential 2 to 3-plus inches of above ground level inundation is possible.

Winds will increase in strength Tuesday night. A Wind Advisory and upgraded High Wind Watches are in effect for 50-60 mph gusts along our coastline, including New York City and parts of New Jersey. Damage resulting from those gusts is likely.

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Western Ulster County in the Catskills due to the possibility of heavy, wet snow.

Thursday will be much calmer, but we will still have a last gasp of wraparound showers and gusty winds. There are no alerts in place for Thursday, but all eyes should be on local river levels.