Thunderstorms, Flooding, Isolated Tornado Could Hit NYC

NEW YORK CITY — A strong cold front moving toward New York City could bring severe weather up to and including a tornado, meteorologists say.

The city is under a hazardous weather outlook from the National Weather Service starting Thursday, when forecasters predict a 70 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms.

"With thunderstorms forecast Thursday afternoon into Friday morning, there is a marginal risk for some thunderstorms to be severe with damaging wind gusts," the outlook states. "An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. There is also a marginal risk for flash flooding with some thunderstorms."

New York City has been a magnet for severe weather this year, at least in part because of climate change, experts say.

Mostly recently, the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 1 flooded wide swaths of the city, including the subways, and claimed several lives.

The weather system arriving this week in the city is a strong cold front that, on Wednesday, extended from the Great Lakes to the central Gulf Coast on Wednesday. Widespread heavy rainfall is expected to drench those areas, before heading to the Mid-Atlantic states Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Here's the National Weather Service forecast for the city:

Wednesday
Scattered showers, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Southeast wind 9 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 74. Southeast wind around 14 mph.

Thursday
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Southeast wind 15 to 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 68. South wind 14 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday
A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Southwest wind around 9 mph.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 72.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.

Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 60.

Monday
Sunny, with a high near 72.

Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.