'Bomb Cyclone' With Torrential Rain Headed Toward NYC

NEW YORK CITY — Forecasters say New York City should brace for up to three inches of rain, some thunder, and strong winds mid-week, as a fast-approaching storm blasts through the area.

The storm will move in Tuesday night and bring widespread rain to the city for most of Wednesday, National Weather Service forecasters said.

The storm is expected to intensify rapidly due to a sudden drop in atmospheric pressure, which is a phenomenon that forecasters call a 'bomb cyclone.'

The city also issued an official wind advisory for Wednesday, in effect between 12 p.m. and 10 p.m., warning New Yorkers that wind gusts could spike up to 49 miles per hour.

Heavy rains and wind could make for a dangerous commute, AccuWeather forecasters warn. There will likely be travel delays.

"Some rain will act like a giant firehose and organize into an intense north-to-south, west-to-east crawling squall with gusty winds," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. "Locally severe thunderstorms can occur on Wednesday in the coastal Northeast with the possibility of a few tornadoes in part of the mid-Atlantic."

Here's the latest forecast from the National Weather Service:

Tuesday night

A 100 percent chance of rain on Tuesday night, with drizzle before 7 p.m. and then showers likely until 1 a.m. The temperature will rise to around 56 degrees by 4 a.m. East wind 7 to 10 mph. New rain amounts to between a quarter of an inch and a half of an inch of rain.

Wednesday

Another 100 percent chance of rain on Wednesday, with rain before 1 p.m. and possibly a thunderstorm before 4 p.m. High near 62 degrees with a wind advisory in effect, for winds increasing as high as 49 miles per hour. The new rain amounts between one and two inches possible.

Wednesday night
A 100 percent chance of rain before 10 p.m., then a chance of showers between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Low around 36. Winds could gust as high as 37 miles per hour. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday
Sunny, with a temperature falling to around 35 by 4 p.m. Breezy, with gusts as high as 34 miles per hour.

Thursday night
Mostly clear, with a low around 28.

Friday
Sunny, with a high near 36.

Friday night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 30 degrees.

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