Rain on the Way

We may be in for a bit of a wild weather ride later today. The same low pressure system that spawned 29 tornadoes from the panhandle of Florida to northern Michigan yesterday will be our big weather maker today. The Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center has the metropolitan area in a slight risk of severe weather this afternoon and evening. For us the severe weather is likely to be thunderstorms with gusty winds and heavy rainfall. The wind and heavy rain combo will strip many trees of their autumn leaves, clogging storm drains which adds to the likelihood of the dreaded urban flooding. We may see a shower or two before noon, but the showers should begin in earnest later in the afternoon. The heaviest rain is expected after the evening rush hour.

At least it's warm. This morning's low of 69 was seven degrees higher than the normal maximum temperature for the day. The low is pulling all sorts of warm air our way. 80 degrees is not out of the question this afternoon.

The weekend is looking much calmer. A few showers may linger until tomorrow morning, but skies should clear as the day progresses. Sunday should be a sunny, 75-degree, jewel of an autumn day. Warm weather is likely to continue into Monday, when AccuWeather predicts a high of 80 (others are going with the mid-70s).

This morning's radar image via the awesome power of WNBC's Doppler 4000.