NYC Faces Flash Flood Watch, Severe Weather: Forecasters

NEW YORK CITY — Heavy rain could flood parts of New York City still recovering from a recent, record-breaking deluge, forecasters warn.

A flash flood watch is in effect Thursday from 4 p.m. and into Friday at 8 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

A slow-moving cold front will hit the city during the afternoon and dump up to 3 inches of rain, forecasters said. One inch of rain could fall in an hour, with the heaviest chance starting around 5 p.m. and going on into the evening.

"Scattered flash flooding of urban and poor drainage areas is possible," a National Weather Service presentation states.

A travel advisory is also in effect during the flood watch's span, New York City emergency management officials said.

John Scrivani, the city's emergency management commissioner, said New Yorkers should be ready, especially as many are still recovering from the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

"New Yorkers should prepare for possible thunderstorms that can cause strong wind gusts and moderate rainfall,” Scrivani said in a statement. “New Yorkers should give themselves additional travel time and take the appropriate precautions if they must move about the city during the storm.”

Early predictions about severe weather from the front remain.

The weather system carries a 100 percent chance of rain, along with the potential for wind gusts in excess of 58 mph, a "marginal risk" of thunderstorms and worse.

"An Isolated tornado can not be ruled out tonight into early Friday," a presentation states.

Here's the complete National Weather Service forecast:

Thursday
Scattered showers before 1pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 77. Southeast wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Low around 63. Southeast wind 8 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday
Showers likely, mainly before 10am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 72. West wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph becoming northwest after midnight.

Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. North wind around 6 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 71.

Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 59.

Monday
Sunny, with a high near 71.

Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.

Tuesday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.