NYC Weather Forecast: 36-Hour Nor'easter Sets Sights On City

NEW YORK, NY – The only good news is it probably won't be snow. Everything else, though, from heavy rain to coastal flooding to potentially damaging winds is in the forecast for New York City as a nor'easter threatens to pound the area for 36 hours straight.

As it stands, the following hazardous weather outlook from the National Weather Service is in effect for the city:

Several tidal cycles of minor to locally moderate coastal flooding
and areas of dune erosion are likely from late Thursday into
Saturday. There is a low probability of widespread moderate coastal
flooding.
There is also a low chance for strong to damaging winds during the
Thursday night into Friday night time period

The bulk of the rain (up to two inches) is expected to fall from Thursday evening through Friday night, the NWS said.

From New Jersey to Maine, people should prepare for potentially damaging winds gusting between 60 and 70 mph, AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda said. The NWS says some of the latest forecast models are suggesting less severe wind impacts.

A full moon that will occur over the city at 7:51 p.m. Thursday is expected to exacerbate any flooding.

"The combination of the proximity of the full moon and strong onshore flow will lead to coastal flooding at times of high tide," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski says.

Before the storm moves in, enjoy today and tomorrow. You won't find much nicer days at the tail end end of February.

The full forecast:

Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph.

Thursday
A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night
Rain. Low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday
Rain. High near 43. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Saturday
Partly sunny, with a high near 47.

Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Originally reported by Ryan Bonner/Patch

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