The much-needed rain that soaked New York City overnight — following one of the city’s driest spells in recorded history — will linger until the end of the workweek with 1 to 3 inches expected through early Saturday morning, meteorologists said.
While the heaviest rain was expected to fall Thursday morning, a low-pressure system should remain near the region leading to periods of rain into Friday night, according to the National Weather Service.
Gusty winds that developed overnight, with maximum gusts between 25 and 35 mph, are likely to remain in place through most of the day, primarily along coastal areas.
While a few “moderately heavy” isolated showers are possible, the rain is expected to become lighter later in the day, meteorologists said.
However, some areas north and west of New York City could see “the first flakes of the season.”
Snow accumulation should remain below 1 inch for most of the area, though higher elevations could see up to 3 inches.
The situation appears to be drastically different for portions of Upstate New York and Pennsylvania, where a winter storm warning will remain in effect for 24 hours, starting Thursday at 4 p.m.
“Snow, heavy at times under localized bands,” the NWS’s office in Binghamton, N.Y., said in a Thursday morning winter weather message.
“Travel could be very difficult, especially with snowfall rates of 1-3 inches per hour in spots overnight. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday morning commute. Heavy snowfall could bring down trees and wires due to the weight of the snow.
Counties affected by the warning include Broome, Delaware, Wayne and Sullivan in New York, as well as much of northeastern Pennsylvania.
Totals will depend on elevation, with 5-12 inches expected in areas above 1,500 feet and 12-18 inches possible in the highest-elevation areas.
A winter weather advisory will be in effect from 6 p.m. Thursday to noon on Friday for Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties in New York.
“Periods of snow will result in snow-covered roads and limited visibilities. Slow down and use caution while driving,” the NWS office in Buffalo said in a Thursday morning statement.