NYC Weather: Inch Of Snow Could Strike Before Weekend Storm

NEW YORK — Winter may finally be coming after all. More than an inch of snow could strike New York City before a looming weekend storm brings sleet and freezing rain, the National Weather Service says.

UPDATE: Some 1.2 inches of snow are now expected to hit Central Park from Thursday evening to Friday morning, the weather service's latest forecast shows. The weekend's storm may bring some more snow on Saturday, followed by more than two inches of rain into late Sunday afternoon, according to the forecast.

(Original story continues below.)

Flakes could start falling as early as about 7 p.m. Thursday and continue overnight, with 1.4 inches expected to blanket Central Park by early Friday morning, the weather service's forecast shows.

Rain could hit later Friday morning as the temperature climbs toward a high near 44 degrees, according to the weather service.

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Snow could return as early as Saturday afternoon as an even nastier storm slams the Midwest and other parts of the Northeast, forecasters say.

While it's uncertain exactly how much snow will hit the five boroughs, AccuWeather says several inches could fall here and in other cities in the region such as Boston and Pittsburgh. The weather service also predicts rainfall on Sunday afternoon, followed by sleet, freezing rain and the potential for more snow.

Here's a closer look at what to expect from the weather this week, courtesy of the National Weather Service.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. Northwest wind 3 to 6 mph.

Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 27. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. West wind 3 to 7 mph.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. West wind 9 to 14 mph.

Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. West wind 8 to 10 mph.

Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 33. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the morning.

Thursday Night
Snow, mainly after 10pm. Temperature rising to around 35 by 5am. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Friday
Rain, mainly before 7am. High near 44. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Saturday
A 30 percent chance of snow after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 37.

Saturday Night
Snow before midnight, then rain. Low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Sunday
Rain, freezing rain, and sleet. High near 39. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Sunday Night
A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13.

(Lead image: Pedestrians walk through a wintry mix in Manhattan on Nov. 15, 2018. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)