NYC Weather: ‘Excessive’ Heavy Rain Prompts Flood Watch

NEW YORK CITY — A soggy, potentially dangerous post-Labor Day awaits New Yorkers as they return to work.

A flood watch is in effect Tuesday until 5 p.m. as forecasters warn of “excessive” rainfall, according to the National Weather Service, which also issued a hazardous weather outlook.

The forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of precipitation, some of which could be heavy and dump up to one inch of rain.

“Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas,” the watch states.

The rain began as Labor Day came to a close, as a slow-moving front rolled in and combined with a low pressure system that pulled moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean into the Northeast, according to AccuWeather.

The dual systems set the stage for intense rain to repeatedly move over the same area, causing rainfall totals to approach month averages in a matter of hours, AccuWeather reported.

“This weather setup is a process known as ‘training,’” the AccuWeather report states.

Heavy rain Tuesday in the city likely will continue into evening hours, which carry a 70 percent chance of precipitation, according to the National Weather Service’s forecast.

Showers are likely Wednesday as well, which has a 60 percent chance of rain, the forecast states.

The skies likely won’t clear until Thursday, when high temperatures will be a relatively cool 73 degrees, according to the forecast.

Here’s the complete National Weather Service forecast.

Tuesday
Showers. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 75. Southeast wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Tuesday Night
Showers likely. Cloudy, with a steady temperature around 71. Northeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday
Showers likely, mainly before 2pm. Cloudy, with a steady temperature around 69. Northeast wind around 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 69. Northeast wind around 11 mph.

Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Northeast wind around 11 mph.

Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 66.

Friday
Sunny, with a high near 76.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 67.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 79.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.

Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.

Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.

Monday
A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.