![\"Heavy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/DSC09433-copy-2.jpg\" "\\"Severe")
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NYC umbrellas will be put to the test by an approaching storm.<\/p>\n
File photo\/Dean Moses<\/p>\n
New York City\u2019s weather woes are continuing through the weekend with heavy rain and a possible tornado coming to town.\n<\/p>\n
While there is still an Air Quality alert in effect for the Five Boroughs, a series of thunderstorms is expected to move in that will alleviate the smoke in the air. According to the National Weather Service<\/a>, showers and thunderstorms are expected on July 18.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some of the storms may be severe, the agency said, with damaging wind gusts being a primary threat, as well as a possible isolated tornado. Heavy rainfall is expected, which could lead to flash flooding.<\/p>\n As a result of the rain, there is a flood watch in effect starting in the morning on July 18 until 2 a.m. on July 19.\n<\/p>\n New York City has been under an Air Quality Alert since July 15 due to the Canadian Wildfires. The Air Quality Index is expected to be Unhealthy on July 18, \u00a0is expected to be unhealthy for everyone, especially sensitive groups. For the latest AQI in your area, visit\u00a0www.AirNow.gov<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The New York City Emergency Management Department has officially issued a weather alert for the weekend due to the severe oncoming storms.\n<\/p>\n \u201cCity workers are preparing our city for tomorrow\u2019s storms by clearing catch basins, staffing up emergency response teams, and placing our downed-tree task force on standby, and New Yorkers should take time to prepare too,\u201d said NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. \u201cPlan for travel delays and exercise caution while moving about the city. If the rain picks up, winds strengthen, or you hear thunder, go inside and wait out the dangerous conditions. Check on your neighbors, especially New Yorkers living in basement apartments, to be sure they\u2019re taking the weather seriously. Stay safe and remember that information is everything: sign up for emergency alerts by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSaturday\u2019s storms will be fast-moving, but the strongest ones can produce damaging winds and intense downpours with little warning,\u201d said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell. \u201cAs we\u2019ve seen in recent storms, conditions can escalate quickly, and a dry morning does not mean a dry afternoon. With a full weekend of World Cup events and watch parties across the city, we\u2019re asking New Yorkers to build flexibility into their Saturday plans, keep an eye on the sky, and be ready to move indoors quickly if thunderstorms approach, and to higher ground if flash flooding begins. Our teams have been coordinating with agencies across the city all week, and we\u2019ll be monitoring conditions around the clock through the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n To find out if you live in a flood zone or for more flooding resources, visit floodhelpny.org<\/a> or the New York City Emergency Management Department page at www.nyc.gov\/site\/em\/ready\/flooding.page<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n For the latest updates on the city\u2019s weather response, sign up for Notify NYC, the City of New York\u2019s official, free emergency communications program. You can also register for emergency notifications by getting the free Notify NYC mobile application<\/a>, visiting\u00a0NYC.gov\/notifynyc<\/a>, contacting\u00a0311<\/a>\u00a0(212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115) or following @NotifyNYC on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t