Developing Tropical Storm Threatens To Drench NYC This Weekend

NEW YORK CITY — An area of low pressure currently sitting off the coast of North Carolina is expected to develop into a tropical storm, potentially sending torrential rain to New York City this weekend.

Though it's expected to stay offshore, its effects will start to be felt in the city from Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm was 60 miles east of Wilmington, North Carolina, as of Thursday morning and is expected to move north east.

While the exact timing and track of the storm are still uncertain, the system has the potential to produce at least 1 to 2 inches of rain, with higher amounts possible, the National Weather Service said.

Rain is likely to begin Friday morning and could last 24 hours straight.

"Right along the coast, from Long Island to Cape Cod, winds could gust between 35 and 50 mph as the storm makes its closest approach," says Matthew Cappucci, a meteorologist with the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang.

The forecast has the rain letting up or stopping Saturday afternoon, but showers and thunderstorms threaten the entire weekend.

Here's a more detailed look at the forecast, courtesy of the National Weather Service:

Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph.

Thursday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 4am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 74. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph.

Friday
Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. High near 82. East wind 9 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 74. East wind 7 to 13 mph becoming south after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Saturday
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. West wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.

Sunday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Sunday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.