By Mariel S. Clark
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — Commuters may want to consider swimming to and from work Thursday as heavy rain is expected to soak the city as part of a 38-hour storm that kicked off with a blustery start Wednesday night.
A steady drizzle fell off and on Thursday morning but was expected to become a heavy downpour by the afternoon and evening, with as much as three inches of rain expected to fall by the time the foul weather moves out on Friday afternoon, according to AccuWeather.
As if Mother Nature wanted to guarantee New Yorkers get drenched, Thursday's rains will be accompanied by gusty winds, some upwards of 40 mph, sure to render umbrellas useless.
The National Weather Service issued a Costal Flood Advisory in effect from 11 p.m. Thursday night to 1 a.m. on Friday and warned that the soaking rains could cause flooding in low-lying areas and roadways.
The rains will eventually usher in warmer temperatures — temperatures will top out in upper 40s on Thursday but by Friday will climb into the mid 50s, forecasters said.
The weekend is expected to be sunny with highs in the 50s both days.
