Two Inches Of Rain Expected By Friday

NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- Wednesday was a gorgeous Fall day in the Big Apple, and hopefully you got the chance to enjoy it, because as CBS 2HD meteorologist Elise Finch reports, the next 48 hours won't be.

Wednesday afternoon featured beautiful blue skies, plenty of sunshine and calm winds. Temperatures reached a high of 65, which is right around normal for this time of year, and far below the record 87 set back in 1954.

A high pressure system, apart from bringing clear skies to our area, also kept conditions dry.

Thursday morning will feature partly sunny skies and only a slight chance of rain. The rain will start in the afternoon, and will pick up by the evening rush hour.

Conditions will be messy, courtesy of a low pressure system that will track its way north and east. "It going to hug the coast," Finch said. "As it moves north, it's going to bring us some rain, potentially some significant rain, and even some gusty windy conditions."

The rain is expected to last through the night. "We do have some heavier rain in there, some thunderstorms potentially as we head into the overnight hours," Finch said. "From Thursday night into Friday we're looking at potentially some moderate to heavy rain. It lingers through the Friday morning commute."

For the rest of Friday, scattered showers are on tap, with wind gusts potentially in excess of 40 mph.

At least two inches of rainfall are expected.

The good news? The Big Apple will dry out by the weekend and will see sunshine on Saturday.

Forecast:

Friday: High 58, Low 47
Cloudy. Rain likely, mainly in the morning. Windy with highs in the upper 50s. West winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Saturday: High 59, Low 47
Mostly sunny and windy. Highs in the lower 60s.

Sunday: High 65, Low 49
Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.