A stretch of severe weather is set to move through the tri-state area on Friday afternoon and evening, prompting an elevated threat level and a severe thunderstorm watch across the region, according to a report from NBC News.
On a scale that runs from 1, meaning low, to 5, meaning high, forecasters have placed the New York City metro area, the lower Hudson Valley, and north and central New Jersey under a Level 2 threat. That same Level 2 risk zone stretches all the way down to the Washington, D.C. area as well.
The biggest concern with Friday’s storms is damaging straight-line winds, with gusts potentially reaching 60 miles per hour or higher. There’s also some risk of flash flooding, though it’s considered lower. Forecasters say tornadoes and hail are unlikely with this particular system.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been put in place covering all five New York City boroughs, along with nearby counties in New Jersey and the Hudson Valley, and it remains active until 9 p.m. Friday.
Timing Of The Storms
Storms could start showing up as early as mid-afternoon, right around the time temperatures peak near 90 degrees. At first, the activity will likely be scattered and isolated, but it’s expected to pick up and become more widespread heading into dinner time and continuing through the mid-evening hours.
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That window, from dinner time through mid-evening, is when both the wind and flooding risks will be at their highest. Once the clock passes 9 p.m., the storms are expected to weaken and become more spread out again.
How Much Rain To Expect
Most areas will likely see less than an inch of rain overall. That said, some isolated spots could get hit harder, potentially picking up 2 to 4 inches in a short period of time, or possibly even more.
The atmosphere is currently holding a lot of moisture, which means the strongest storms have the potential to dump heavy rain quickly. There is some good news though. Because these storms are expected to keep moving rather than stalling, a pattern known as training, where several storm cells pass over the same spot repeatedly, is unlikely. That movement should help keep total rainfall amounts somewhat limited.
What’s Ahead For The Weekend
Looking further out, Saturday afternoon and evening will bring a lower chance of scattered showers and storms. By Sunday, though, conditions are expected to clear up significantly, with rain chances dropping to near zero in and around New York City.