This weekend will see some rain as we approach St. Patrick’s Day, particularly affecting Sunday and early Monday. Saturday is expected to be foggy and cloudy but mostly dry, with only a slight chance of sprinkles. Sunday morning remains dry for the NYC half marathon, but gusty winds of 10-35 mph will pose challenges. Rain and showers are expected to begin late Sunday afternoon, potentially bringing damaging winds up to 60 mph. While minor flooding is possible, the worst should pass by Monday morning. Fortunately, rain will clear before the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, making for enjoyable festivities.
After a mostly calm week, rain is making a comeback this weekend as we gear up for St. Patrick’s Day.
However, this weekend is not a complete washout. We’re anticipating enough precipitation to disrupt at least a portion of Sunday and potentially the early part of Monday.
Saturday will be the drier day of the weekend, but it won’t be ideal for outdoor activities either. It kicks off with fog, and clouds are expected to linger throughout the day. While there’s no significant rainfall expected, the atmosphere might feel a bit damp, with the chance of an occasional light sprinkle.
On Sunday, the first half of the day remains largely dry, which is good news for those participating in the New York City half marathon. Runners won’t need to navigate around puddles.
Nonetheless, the weather won’t be perfect; expect gusty winds throughout the day.
The tri-state area will experience consistent winds of 10-15 mph, with gusts ranging from 25-35 mph. While these winds can assist when behind you, they will create additional challenges if they’re coming head-on.
Showers are set to arrive late Sunday afternoon and will continue through the night into Monday morning. This is associated with the same weather system bringing severe storms to the Midwest on Friday and the Southeast on Saturday, where they face risks of heavy winds, large hail, and multiple strong tornadoes.
Fortunately, by the time this system reaches the tri-state area, the worst of the severe weather will have passed. Nonetheless, some isolated severe weather remains a possibility, particularly concerning damaging winds.
Wind gusts could reach as high as 60 mph, capable of breaking tree branches and toppling power lines. The most intense conditions are anticipated overnight into early Monday.
By Monday morning’s commute, rain will still be present, though the biggest storm threats should have dissipated. However, be prepared for isolated heavier rain bouts which may reduce visibility.
This system does not pose a significant flooding risk, but there may still be some minor flooding in low-lying areas and flood-prone roads. If your commute involves any such areas, allow yourself extra time and plan an alternate route if needed.
Overall, this weather system is expected to bring a substantial amount of rain to the area. Most regions may see half an inch to an inch of rainfall, while Long Island could experience 1-2 inches of rain as the showers persist longer into Monday.
Fortunately, the rain should have cleared out of New York City by the time the St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off on Monday, allowing participants to leave their ponchos at home.
In fact, it won’t take long for the sun to emerge from behind the clouds. Temperatures are expected to rise into the upper 50s, accompanied by a refreshing breeze that won’t disrupt the celebrations.
All in all, it looks to be a pleasant event; just don your jacket, sunglasses, and don something (or a lot of) green.