Travel Advisory Issued for NYC Thursday As Rain and Thunderstorms Expected

New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) has issued a Travel Advisory for Thursday, August 27, as periods of rain and thunderstorms could bring locally heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts to the city.

In the latest forecast by the National Weather Service (NWS), showers and thunderstorms are possible beginning late Thursday morning and continuing off and on through the evening. The greatest chance for rain and thunderstorms is currently expected between approximately 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Rain chances are expected to taper overnight, although an isolated shower remains possible through midday Friday. New York City is under a Flood Watch from noon until 11 p.m. tomorrow.

The National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center has placed New York City under a Slight Risk for excessive rainfall and flash flooding, Level 2 of 4, for Thursday. The Storm Prediction Center has also placed the New York City area under a Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms, Level 1 of 5. No excessive rainfall or severe weather risk is currently forecast for Friday.

Current forecasts call for 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain across the area, with localized totals up to 2.5 inches possible where isolated thunderstorms develop. Higher totals are more likely north and west of New York City, slightly lower amounts currently forecasted across southern Brooklyn and Queens. Rainfall rates are generally expected to remain below 0.5 inches per hour, but thunderstorms could produce brief periods of 1 to 1.5 inches per hour.

Localized flash flooding is possible where isolated downpours move over, but low-lying and poor-drainage areas are at highest risk, particularly Thursday afternoon and early evening. Thunderstorms may also produce damaging wind gusts and small hail. The overall severe weather risk remains low, but an isolated stronger storm could produce wind gusts up to 65 mph.

NYCEM is coordinating with the NWS and City agencies ahead of Thursday’s weather to monitor the forecast and issue emergency weather updates through Notify NYC. The City’s Flash Flood Plan was activated on Wednesday at 8:00 AM, and the Downed Tree Task Force has been placed on alert to support any potential tree removal operations.