As of 4:51 a.m. Thursday, May 14, Central Park is starting the day calm and clear at about 55°F. Enjoy it while it lasts. Forecasters say a band of showers and a few isolated thunderstorms will move in this morning into the early afternoon, soaking the commute and keeping highs stuck in the low 60s.
Morning Commute
Expect showers to be in the mix before 11 a.m., with the best shot at heavier rain and isolated thunderstorms from roughly 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The focus will be on Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island, where quick downpours could lead to brief ponding on busy routes and slow buses, subways and ferries. The National Weather Service estimates rainfall totals of a few tenths of an inch for most spots, with conditions improving later in the afternoon.
Timing And Totals
Across most neighborhoods, rain amounts should average a few tenths of an inch, with locally higher totals where any storms sit over the same area or briefly intensify. Winds this afternoon stay on the light to moderate side, so runoff and ponding, not wind, will be the main travel issue. Showers fade toward evening, setting up a cooler night with lows in the low 50s.
Weekend Warmup And Boating Caution
Once this slow-moving system finally slips to the east, the pattern flips to a warmer, drier setup for the weekend, with highs climbing into the 70s on Saturday and reaching the 80s inland on Sunday. Dew points should stay modest, so it will feel reasonably comfortable even as the numbers rise. An earlier update on howling winds and thunderstorms also notes that nearshore water temperatures are still in the lower 50s, so boaters and paddlers should wear life jackets and plan for cold-water risks.
If you are heading out this morning, grab the rain gear and budget some extra time. Keep an eye on the latest forecasts and transit alerts before you hit the road, tracks or ferries.
