Strong Thunderstorms Set to Roll Through NYC Friday Evening

NEW YORK, NY — If the oppressive heat wasn't enough, now heavy thunderstorms are expected to hit New York as the work week ends.

There are so many weather warnings, the National Weather Service issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook on Friday afternoon encompassing all the different problems approaching the city. The weather was moving through New Jersey and expected to hit Manhattan before 8 p.m.

Most pressing on Friday evening was a warning for severe thunderstorms pushing through the region. The heaviest storms were expected in northern Manhattan and Westchester. The NWS says to expect damaging winds and torrential rainfall. They have also issued a flash flood warning for the second straight day.

Pedestrians in Midtown Manhattan could be seen running into storefronts to shelter themselves from the first roaring winds of the storm Friday evening. A Patch reporter watched one woman struggle to free herself from a plastic bag that the wind had blown onto her. Another group of teens huddled behind a parked car to wait out an especially violent gust.

Folks in New Jersey were already experiencing the issues at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. In fact, fans in attendance for an NFL preseason game at MetLife Stadium were told to retreat to the cover of the concourses. The start of the game was delayed.

The heat won't break with these thunderstorms, however, as you can expect even hotter weather on Saturday. The city is forecast to reach nearly 100 degrees in temperature, with a heat index of 110.

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