Messy weather ahead going into the New Years holiday for NYC. We start with high pressure moving overhead. This then gives way to a frontal system tomorrow night. After a brief lull, another storm, similar in some ways to the Christmas storm comes in Friday. Both these precipitation will be rain in the city. Temperatures during this period will generally be above normal in the 40s, warming into the mid-upper 40s.

Rest of today – partly cloudy with high temperatures around 40ºF. Clouds will be streaming in from the northwest, originating from the Great Lakes as lake effect snow showers. These clouds will tend to thin out as northwest flow downslopes dries out across the higher terrain north and west of the city. This northwest flow could also result in some strong wind gusts. With strong high pressure forecast to move nearly directly overhead tonight, winds should calm with skies becoming mostly clear. This will favor good radiational cooling, leading to cold overnight lows in the mid-20s.

Wednesday – partly cloudy with high temperatures again around 40ºF. Overnight, a warm front passes, followed by a cold front. This will result in an increase in temperatures overnight from the mid-30s as well as rain.

Thursday – a mild day despite the passage of the cold front mentioned above, with forecasters noting the air mass behind the front being of milder Pacific origin. High temperatures around 50ºF. Rain chances should diminish quickly after the morning passage of the cold front. The respite will not last too long as the next storm system follows up quickly. Overnight temperatures dropping into the low-30s.

Friday – high temperatures in the mid-40s with another storm system approaching. Rain chances increase going into the overnight hours. This storm, like the Christmas storm, is expected to deliver some moderate to heavy rain. However, since it’s forecast to be weaker overall, the winds and precipitation totals shouldn’t be nearly as robust as the last storm. Overnight should shape up to be similar to Wednesday, where temperatures may actually increase into the upper-40s with the passage of a warm front and corresponding warm air advection.