The New York City Emergency Management Department today issued a travel advisory for Thursday afternoon through Friday, December 23. New York City is also urging New Yorkers in coastal communities to prepare ahead of the winter storm.
New York City timeline
Showers will develop around 5 p.m. Thursday, and will continue into the overnight hours into Friday. The rain could be heavy at times. Some thunderstorms are possible as well. A huge temperature swing is also expected from highs Friday in the upper-50s to lows Saturday morning in the mid-teens. There may be a bit of a wintry mix as the temperature shifts swings in. Icy conditions are also possible at the time with the arctic air pouring in.
A citywide Wind Advisory is also in effect from 10:00 PM Thursday to 10:00 PM Friday. Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected to develop Thursday night with gusts up to 55 mph overnight into Friday. Peak gusts may reach as high as 60 mph mid-day Friday as a strong cold front pushes through the area. Winds will begin to diminish Friday evening and overnight into Saturday, but will remain breezy with gusts up to 30 mph through the weekend.
Rain will move into the area around noon Thursday with periods of heavy rainfall likely Thursday evening into the overnight. There may be a brief lull Friday morning before intensity increases again as the cold front approaches. A period of thunderstorms with lightning is also possible late Friday morning. Rain will end quickly with passage of the cold front in the early afternoon. In total, 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain is expected with max rates around 0.5 inch per hour. Flash flooding is not anticipated, but widespread urban poor drainage and nuisance flooding is likely. Snow showers may then develop in the wake of the front Friday afternoon. Little to no accumulation is expected, however flash freezes will be possible on roadways.
As for the temperatures, a rapid drop of 10 to 15 degrees is expected over only a 1- to 2-hour period when the cold front moves through. Temperatures will continue to plummet overnight with a nearly 40-degree swing expected from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning with wind chills nearing zero. Black ice may form in areas with standing water as temperatures decrease.
“New York City is expecting several hazards with the incoming storm including high winds, heavy rain, cold temperatures, and coastal flooding. Prepare ahead of the holiday weekend,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “Heavy rain in addition to a high tide will also bring moderate to major coastal flooding. We urge coastal residents to take steps to protect their property ahead of Friday morning’s high tide.”
