‘Major’ Winter Storm To Hit NYC Before Coldest Christmas In Decades

NEW YORK CITY — New York City’s forecast ahead of Christmas is an ever-growing pile of cold, wet, wind-lashed coal.

A “major late week winter storm” expected to hit Thursday and Friday looks worse and worse with every successive forecast by the National Weather Service.

Up to 3 inches of rain, 55 mph wind gusts, subzero wind chills, potential snow showers, “some thunder” and coastal flooding are predicted in the latest forecast.

And a “flash freeze” in the storm’s wake will send temperatures plunging from near-60 degrees to lows not seen on Christmas in decades, AccuWeather reported.

“In New York City, this Christmas is likely to be the coldest since at least 2000 when the high was 27, and the low was 15 at Central Park,” an AccuWeather report states.

The winter storm is part of massive system expected to bring even worse weather, such as blizzards, to other parts of the U.S.

AccuWeather meteorologists warn that pre-holiday travel conditions Friday in New York will be “poor.”

The storm likely will hit Thursday evening, with the heaviest rain arriving about 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Heavy precipitation likely will end by Friday afternoon, although strong winds will continue into that evening, forecasters warn.

The temperature will fall from a high of 57 degrees to 30 degrees Friday after 5 p.m., the forecast states.

Flash freeze conditions will arise Friday night, as temperatures plummet even farther to 10 degrees, with -5 degree wind chills, according to the National Weather Service. Black ice and other hazards could develop, forecasters warn.

Here’s the complete National Weather Service forecast.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. North wind 3 to 6 mph.

Wednesday Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 34. Southeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming north after midnight.

Thursday
Rain, mainly after 2pm. High near 56. East wind 8 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night
Rain. Temperature rising to around 57 by 4am. Windy, with an east wind 17 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday
Rain before 5pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Temperature falling to around 30 by 5pm. Windy, with a southeast wind around 26 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 48 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. Windy.

Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 23. Breezy.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 18.

Christmas Day
Sunny, with a high near 26.

Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 21.

Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 31.

Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Tuesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 36.