NYC Weather: 70 MPH Winds, Heavy Rain, Flooding From Major Storm

NEW YORK CITY — Batten down the hatches because New York City is in for a wet and windy ride.

The latest forecast for a major storm set to strike the city Tuesday warn of 70 mph winds, several inches of soaking rain and widespread potential flooding, according to the National Weather Service.

The city is under a constellation of weather alerts — a flood watch, a coastal flood advisory, a high wind warning and a hazardous weather outlook — that carry into Wednesday.

"Given that multiple warnings and advisories have been issued citywide, including the potential for significant coastal flooding in southern Queens, I urge all New Yorkers to take this storm seriously, stay updated through Notify NYC, and take necessary precautions," said Zach Iscol, the city's emergency management commissioner, in a statement.

We are still on track for a major storm system to bring flooding rainfall, strong to damaging winds, moderate to locally major coastal flooding, and major shoreline impacts starting this evening. #NYwx #CTwx #NJwx

For more, see our latest briefing:https://t.co/zLtWZnfflN pic.twitter.com/YQsl66G3nX
— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) January 9, 2024

Rain mainly will fall after 2 p.m., with the heaviest expected to hit between 7 p.m. and Wednesday at 5 a.m., according to a National Weather Service briefing.

Rainfall amounts of 2 to 2.5 inches are forecast with localized higher amounts possible during this time," a hazardous weather outlook states. "There will be potential for widespread flooding, including flash flooding with nearly saturated grounds going into tonight, allowing for excessive runoff."

Isolated wind gusts of 70 mph could hit the city, along with locally higher gusts, a briefing warns. Those likely will be between 10 p.m. and Wednesday at 5 a.m., it states.

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

Tuesday
Rain, mainly after 2pm. High near 49. East wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night
Rain, mainly before 5am. The rain could be heavy at times. Temperature rising to around 55 by 1am. Windy, with a southeast wind 23 to 32 mph becoming south after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Wednesday
A chance of rain before 7am, then a chance of showers between 7am and 2pm. Partly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 45 by 10am. Breezy, with a west wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 47. Southwest wind 9 to 11 mph.

Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 35.

Friday
A 30 percent chance of rain after 2pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 45.

Friday Night
Rain, mainly after 8pm. Low around 45. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Saturday
Rain, mainly before 8am. High near 55. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Breezy.

Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 35.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

M.L.King Day
A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38.