Flood watch covers part of Northeast as drenching rain heads for NYC, Philadelphia

NEW YORK – Drenching rain moving into the Northeast on Wednesday has now triggered a flood watch that covers more than 10 million people, including Philadelphia and much of New Jersey.

A large plume of moisture is heading up the Eastern Seaboard Wednesday into Thursday, with the latest computer guidance suggesting rainfall totals will be heavier than initially forecast. 

The heaviest rainfall is expected along the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington to Connecticut from about 5 p.m. ET Wednesday to 4 a.m. ET Thursday and could result in flash flooding.

“There will be a corridor from about Connecticut down into New Jersey, maybe even closer to the Delmarva, where this rain is enhanced by a coastal low,” said FOX Weather Meteorologist Stephen Morgan. “Regarding the widespread rain, we’ll still see it through much of Pennsylvania into New York. This zone, though, has been highlighted for the potential of maybe dealing with some flooding or excessive rain.”

NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center has upgraded parts of the Northeast to a Level 2 out of 4 risk for flash flooding – an area that includes New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Delaware and parts of Maryland. 

A Flood Watch is in effect until Thursday evening for nearly all of New Jersey, along with the Philadelphia metro area and northern Delaware.

Rainfall totals could reach 1-2 inches across much of the region by Thursday, with isolated areas receiving 3 inches of rain.

The NWS New York office has already warned northeast New Jersey of possible river flooding and of urban and poor-drainage flooding from Philadelphia to New York City.

 The heaviest rain will be over by Thursday night, but the slow-moving system will keep a chance of showers in the forecast through late Friday and even into Saturday morning.

This could lead to problems for travelers headed to Boston, New York and Washington to celebrate the New Year. FOX Weather is forecasting travel delays for airports from the D.C. Metro area through Boston.

Roads will be wet, too, but not super slippery. This is a warm system, and most of the precipitation will fall as rain, though there is a possibility of some flurries late Friday.

“Maybe you’re traveling. Maybe you’re heading home,” Morgan said. “AAA is expecting that Thursday is going to be one of the busiest days as folks are going to be hitting the road, heading back home Thursday. Wednesday into Thursday is going to be also the wettest day of this week. So, we’ll watch that along that I-95 corridor.”

New Year’s Eve will not necessarily be a washout, though, as a weak ridge forms over the Northeast and sets up dry conditions. 

“Don’t be deceived by this – these next three days – because in New York City, things are going to be improving,” Morgan said. “We’re dealing with the cloudy, sort of gloomy conditions followed by the rain, but, overall, we’re going to see things dry out for the New Year.” 

Inland areas from West Virginia through Pittsburgh and into Buffalo, New York, will not be so lucky, though. While the coast is clear, a mix of rain and snow is forecast from western New York into the Appalachians.