New Yorkers, it is time to grab your umbrellas. The longest dry stretch of the year for the tri-state area is officially coming to an end.
New York City has gone over two weeks without any measurable rain. This has contributed to ongoing drought conditions across the region.
However, according to NBC New York, our dry streak is about to break. A massive cross-country storm is shifting east and moving right into the Interstate 95 corridor.
Here is exactly what you need to know about the upcoming forecast.
When will the rain hit NYC?
Scattered showers will start to arrive in the NYC area Thursday morning. It will not be raining all day. Any showers we get during the day will be relatively light.
The real shift happens later. By Thursday night into Friday morning, a cold front will drape along the East Coast. This system is bringing a band of deep atmospheric moisture right ahead of it.
Fox Weather anticipates heavy rain with embedded thunder to greet the immediate coast by Friday morning. The rain will continue on and off during the day.
Friday will absolutely be a day for a sturdy rain jacket and waterproof boots.
Coastal flood warnings and rainfall totals
Rainfall totals will vary drastically depending on your exact location. Inland areas will likely see well under a half inch of rain.
The coast, however, is a completely different story. The forecast is tricky due to a sharp cut-off between heavy and light rain.
If the band of heaviest rain clips our coast, Long Island and the Jersey Shore could pick up 2 to 3 inches or more on Friday.
According to Fox Weather, there is a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood risk covering parts of Suffolk County on Long Island for Friday.
While severe weather is not anticipated, isolated areas of minor flooding are highly possible during heavy downpours.
A massive cross-country storm system
This local rain is part of a much larger weather event. This same cross-country storm triggered flash flood emergencies across the Tennessee-Georgia border early Thursday.
The massive system is expected to impact more than 35 states and 120 million people by the end of the week.
The rain will linger across our region through Friday and is expected to taper off from south to north.
Some lingering showers may stick around southern New England through Saturday morning, but NYC should start drying out just in time for the weekend.
If you need a cozy way to escape the downpours this Friday, check out our favorite hidden indoor cafes to ride out the storm.
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