NYC Weather: 'Major Coastal Storm' Threatens 3-Inch Rain, 45 MPH Winds

NEW YORK CITY — A wet, windy and potentially dangerous Wednesday faces New Yorkers, forecasters said.

A "major coastal storm" threatens to dump up to 3 inches of rain, blow 45 mph winds and potentially flood parts of New York City, according to a National Weather Service briefing.

The city faced four different weather alerts Wednesday morning: a high wind warning, a flood watch, a coastal flood advisory and a hazardous weather outlook.

The flood watch warns that "2-3 additional inches of rain are forecast this morning through Thursday morning (higher totals possible) with a period of higher rainfall rain rates of 0.5-0.75"/hr possible this evening and early tonight which may lead to some areas of concern in the Flood Watch area."

The storm system is expected to wreak havoc across the Eastern U.S., with many areas receiving a blast of heavy snow, according to the National Weather Service.

New York City will miss out on the late-season winter storm, with temperatures expected to top out at 44 degrees, the forecast states.

Showers and strong winds are expected to continue through Wednesday into early Thursday, forecasters warn.

The high wind warning will be in effect from Wednesday at 11 a.m. to Thursday at 6 a.m.

The flood watch will begin Wednesday at 4 p.m. and last until Thursday at 1 a.m.

And the coastal flood advisory will be in effect from Wednesday at 2 p.m. until Thursday at 7 a.m.

Here's the complete National Weather Service forecast, as of Wednesday morning.

Wednesday
Showers. High near 44. Windy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 23 to 28 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 44. Windy, with a northeast wind 24 to 29 mph decreasing to 16 to 21 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Thursday
Showers likely, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Northwest wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night
Showers likely, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday
A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind 10 to 14 mph.

Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 58.

Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 42.

Monday
Sunny, with a high near 64.

Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Tuesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 63.