NYC Weather: 3 Inches Of Rain Could Fall, Flood Watch Looms

NEW YORK CITY — Grab your galoshes — floods could be coming to New York City.

Up to 3 inches of heavy rain expected to fall starting Wednesday afternoon prompted National Weather Service meteorologists to issue a flood watch.

The flood watch is in effect from 1 p.m. until Thursday at 6 a.m.

City emergency management officials also issued a travel advisory that warns of widespread minor flooding.

"Our primary concern is the afternoon and evening, where several hours of moderate to heavy rain will be possible, particularly during the commute," said Zach Iscol, the city's emergency management commissioner, in a statement.

The city faces a 100 percent chance of precipitation Wednesday, with the bulk of rain forecast between 3 p.m. and midnight, officials said.

Roughly an inch of rain an hour could fall, officials said.

And wet weather could carry into Thursday, which carries a 50 percent chance of rain from daylong cloudy conditions, according to the National Weather Service's forecast.

New Yorkers will get a reprieve from rain Friday, but most likely not for the weekend — both Saturday and Sunday carry 90 percent and 60 percent chances of precipitation, respectively, according to the forecast.

Here's the complete National Weather Service forecast, as of Wednesday morning.

Wednesday
Rain, mainly after 1pm. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 52. Light and variable wind becoming northeast around 6 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night
Rain, mainly before 1am. The rain could be heavy at times. Steady temperature around 52. North wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Thursday
A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly after 7am. Cloudy, with a high near 51. North wind 14 to 16 mph.

Thursday Night
A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 42. North wind 13 to 16 mph.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. North wind 9 to 11 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Saturday
A 40 percent chance of rain after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 48.

Saturday Night
Rain. Low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Sunday
Rain likely, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Breezy.

Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Breezy.

Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Breezy.

Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 53.