NYC Weather: Severe Storms To Break Stifling Heat

NEW YORK CITY – Severe thunderstorms are expected to hit New York City Wednesday, bringing to an end stifling heat which has baked the city all week.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook, warning of flash floods as the intense rainfall rolls in during the afternoon.

"There is potential for localized to scattered areas of flash flooding Thursday afternoon into evening ahead of and along a slow moving cold front," it said.

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The warning joins a heat advisory and an air quality alert that was already in place as temperatures have hovered just below 100 degrees all week.

Heavy rain is likely to continue through Thursday, the forecaster said, with showers into the weekend.

Wednesday's temperatures will reach a high of 96 degrees with a heat index up to 102 degrees, the NWS said. But they'll plunge when the storm arrives, with the high being 80 degrees Thursday.

Here's the forecast in more detail, courtesy of the NWS:

Today
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 102. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Tonight
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Steady temperature around 80. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Thursday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2am, then showers likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 70. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday
Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Light and variable wind becoming northeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Saturday
A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76.