Thunderstorms, Heavy Rains Expected to Sweep NYC This Week

Crazy heat and humidity early this week in the greater New York City area is expected to give way to heavy rain and thunderstorms as soon as Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

There is a 40 percent chance that thunderstorms will hit on Wednesday night.

By Thursday, however, that chance rises to 70 percent.

The NWS has issued a ”hazardous weather outlook” for Thursday throughout all five boroughs, as well as in Long Island.

“Showers and a few thunderstorms Thursday through Thursday night will be capable of producing heavy rain,” says the outlook. ”There is a chance for urban and poor drainage flooding during this time frame.”

By Friday, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Katy Galimberti, ”the threat for storms will end as humidity levels fall. High temperatures will be in the low 80s [Fahrenheit] through the weekend, making for more comfortable conditions.”

Temperatures across New York City broke records Tuesday for historical highs on September 8.

In Central Park, for example, it reached 97 degrees, where the previous high was 93 back in 1919. LaGuardia hit 94, beating 1945’s high of 91.

Below is a city forecast from Wednesday through Sunday evening, courtesy of the NWS.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 90. South wind 5 to 11 mph.

Wednesday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 9 to 14 mph becoming light southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday: A chance of showers, mainly before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

Saturday night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday night: A chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 30%.