Revelers should expect plenty of rain while ringing in the New Year in the New York City area.
Monday’s sunny and breezy conditions will linger into Tuesday before cloudy and stormy conditions move in late in the afternoon and throughout the rest of the night, eventually turning into heavy rain — as much as half an inch of precipitation — as the clock strikes midnight. The heaviest rain is forecast to hit the city between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.
More than 1 million people are expected to ring in 2025 in Times Square — where umbrellas will not be allowed — with potentially drenching rain.
“Planning on seeing the ball drop in Times Square for New Year’s Eve? Be weather aware, as moderate to heavy rain is possible within a few hours of midnight that night,” the New York State Weather Risk Communication Center said in a social media post.
Temperatures in the low 50s and high 40s will likely drop slightly but not far enough to turn the rain into sleet or snow.
“There can be a storm that arrives New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day that has the potential to produce a mix of rain and snow for the Northeast, with all rain farther south,” AccuWeather long-range forecast expert Paul Pastelok said.
The skies should clear by early Wednesday morning, but temperatures are expected to drop throughout the rest of the week, settling in the low 40s during the day and dipping into the 20s after sunset.
North of the city, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center says the Northern Lights could be appear in the Hudson Valley on Tuesday because of a solar storm, but the rain could hamper visibility.
People in the tristate area venturing outside should bundle up as the week progresses as wind chills in the teens are on the horizon.