New Yorkers hoping for a sunny Memorial Day kickoff are in for a rude awakening — and Sunday morning may be the rudest of all.
A stubborn storm system has been hovering over the Northeast all weekend, and it’s saving some of its worst behavior for Sunday. According to forecasters, the heaviest rainfall of the entire holiday weekend is expected to arrive Sunday morning, with downpours capable of causing ponding on roadways and making driving genuinely dangerous.
Saturday was already rough — temperatures stuck in the mid-50s, steady rain, and a stiff cold wind off the Atlantic made it feel more like March than May. The Jersey Shore and Long Island were under a High Surf Advisory, with waves reaching 4 to 7 feet and a High Rip Current Risk keeping swimmers out of the water.
Then comes Sunday. The morning will bring the most intense rain, and while conditions may ease slightly by afternoon, don’t expect a dramatic turnaround. High temperatures will only reach the low 60s — a far cry from what a late-May weekend should feel like.
The Tri-State Area is expected to see an average of 2 inches of rain total, with some locations picking up as much as 4 inches. While flash flooding isn’t the top threat, ponding on streets and travel delays are very likely — especially Sunday morning.
If you have any outdoor plans, Memorial Day itself (Monday) looks like the best of the three days, with some potential for sunshine and highs climbing into the low 70s. But Sunday? Stay inside if you can.
Travel tip: If you’re driving Sunday morning, leave extra time, avoid flooded underpasses, and expect slowdowns on highways.
