NYC Weather: Heavy Rain Forecast, City On High Alert After Ida

NEW YORK CITY – A rainstorm taking aim at New York City Wednesday evening is now forecast to dump less than half an inch of water – but with Ida's carnage still a fresh memory, officials are taking no chances.

The amount predicted by the National Weather Service is paltry compared to the 7.49 inches measured in Midtown last Wednesday, leaving at least 12 dead, cars stranded in streets, a subway system flooded and crippled and water pouring into basement apartments.

But Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered crews out to make sure the city was ready as it approached.

"This is an abundance of caution," he said Wednesday morning.

"What we’re going to be doing from now on is giving people information with a sense that we know how rapidly weather is changing now."

He added that the amount forecast "normally would not be an issue at all, but obviously we’re concerned about folks who are hit that any new water could be a problem and we’re concerned that we can see more than projected."

He said crews of workers were out inspecting drains and catch basins to make sure they were ready for the latest rainfall.

The rain was expected to start Wednesday afternoon, but be at its heaviest around midnight.

Here's a look at the forecast in more detail, courtesy of the NWS:

This Afternoon
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind around 18 mph.

Tonight
Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 69. South wind 7 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Light northwest wind.

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph after midnight.

Friday
Sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind around 9 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.