Thunderstorms for NYC This Afternoon

While tri-staters may be occupied with concerns over Hurricane Irene this weekend, a separate weather system is already bringing showers to the area Thursday.

A few showers and thundershowers are working their way through the northwest suburbs late Thursday morning, but most will weaken before getting to the city.

Locally heavy thunderstorms are more likely to swing throught later Thursday afternoon into early nighttime, possibly from as early as to 2 p.m. to as late as 9 or 10 p.m. east of the city.

Evening rush-hour commuters could see some gusty storms with heavy downpours.

There could be a break in the weather from Fridday into early Saturday. A few showers running well out ahead of Irene could sweep in Saturday, and more numerous showers are likely for Saturday night into early Sunday morning.

The wind will start to pick up later Saturday night into Sunday morning, with tropical storm-force winds and possibly hurricane-force wind gusts by late morning Sunday into Sunday afternoon.

The storm should pull up into New England by Sunday evening and be gone in terms of rain and its strongest winds Sunday night.

Monday will feature the return of sunshine.

Developments on Hurricane Irene are still being closely monitored; details will follow here on NBCNewYork.com.

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