Foggy, wet weather is causing some delays at the tri-state's three largest airports as throngs of holiday travelers try to get in and out of town, Storm Team 4 says heavy rain could snarl travel further.
The same storm system is being blamed for four deaths in Mississippi and for the tempestuous winds and snow that's wreaking havoc on a huge swath of the country, disrupting travel and delaying flights the day before Christmas Eve.
John F. Kennedy Airport saw the worst delays Wednesday morning, with planes being set back between 45 minutes and an hour. At Newark Airport, delays were about 30 minutes, and arriving flights were landing about 20 minutes behind schedule at LaGuardia Airport.
Steady rain started falling across the tri-state early on Christmas Eve, and it's not expected to let up until Christmas morning. Wednesday's wet wet weather may cause flooding in some parts of the Hudson Valley, according to Storm Team 4. More than 1 inch of rain could fall Wednesday in those areas. The coasts of New York and New Jersey could be similarly waterlogged.
The city should see about a half-inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain, Storm Team 4 says.
The rain should clear out before the afternoon Thursday. Christmas Day could initially see a high of up to 60 degrees in some areas, but after the sun comes up, a cold front will send temperatures plummeting back into the 40s. It's forecast to be 44 degrees Thursday, and wind chills could make it feel like it's in the 20s or 30s.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be mostly clear, sunny and seasonably chilly.
