NYC Weather: Nor'easter Takes Aim, 50 MPH Winds Possible

NEW YORK — The nasty nor'easter set to storm New York City later Friday will pack wind gusts as strong as 50 MPH and soak the area in up to two inches of rain, the National Weather Service warns. The storm will approach by Friday night and drench the city through much of Saturday, according to the weather service.

The heavy rain expected along the East Coast is partly fueled by moisture stemming from Hurricane Willa, which struck Mexico earlier in the week, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski writes.

"Fast forward motion of the storm may limit the worst weather conditions from Friday night to Saturday night," Dave Dombek, another AccuWeather senior meteorologist, told the website.

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Northeast winds blowing at 25 to 35 MPH in the city could topple trees, cause power outages and create dangerous conditions for drivers, the weather service warns. Con Edison has already added more than 130 extra utility contractors to help restore power lines and clear roads blocked by fallen wires and trees, the company said Thursday.

Gusts of 40 to 50 MPH are possible along the coast, the weather service says. The five boroughs will be under a wind advisory from 1 a.m. to noon Saturday, roughly coinciding with when the strongest gales are expected, according to the weather service.

One to two inches of rain are expected to fall across the tri-state region, though locally higher amounts are possible, the weather service says; Central Park is expected to get about an inch and a half by Saturday night. The wet weather could cause minor flooding in low-lying roads and urban areas, the weather service warns.

The storm should subside Saturday night, with the rain lightening by Sunday morning, according to the weather service. Saturday's temperature will be steady around 51 degrees, while Sunday will be warmer with a high near 57, the forecast shows.

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

Saturday
Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Steady temperature around 51. Windy, with a northeast wind 18 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Saturday Night
Rain before 7pm, then showers likely between 7pm and 1am, then a slight chance of drizzle or light rain after 1am. Steady temperature around 51. Northeast wind 5 to 11 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Sunday
A slight chance of drizzle or light rain before 7am, then a slight chance of showers after 7am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. West wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night
A 40 percent chance of rain after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Monday
Rain likely, mainly between 7am and 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

(Lead image: Pedestrians walk in Manhattan on a day of wind, rain and snow in March 2018. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)