Flood Watch, 4 a.m. to noon

The National Weather Service put New York City under a Flood Watch for Sunday, Sept. 13, from 4 a.m. through midday. Emergency Management is telling residents to get ready Saturday night.

51 schools open overnight

The city opens 51 safe overnight locations at public schools from 10 p.m. Saturday, aimed at people in basement and below-grade apartments. Service animals and pets are allowed.

Worst window: 5 to 10 a.m.

Rain starts in the early morning and runs through midday. Forecasts have climbed since Friday, and the city now sits at Slight Risk, Level 2 of 4, for excessive rainfall.

One and a half to three inches

Expect 1.5 to 3 inches across the city, less on Staten Island and the west side, more toward the east. Eastern Brooklyn and Queens could see higher local totals.

Long Island gets it worse

Nassau, Suffolk and southern Connecticut could pick up 5 to 7 inches. Forecasters will not rule out those totals creeping into the eastern edge of the city.

Two inches in an hour

Rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are likely, and the strongest storms could drop 2 to 2.5 inches in sixty minutes. That is enough to swamp drains, underpasses and highway dips.

“Heavy rain can overwhelm streets and drainage systems in minutes”

Know your exits before bed

Mayor Zohran Mamdani asked basement residents to plan their route to a higher floor before sleeping, and drivers to leave early and never cross a flooded street.

“Never drive through a flooded street.”

Turn your alerts on

Text NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 and keep your phone volume up overnight. Basement tenants can sign up at nyc.gov/notify and pick the basement option for automated flood calls.

“Do not wait until you see water rising to make a plan.”

Clear again by afternoon

The rain shifts east by midday and no tornado threat is expected. An evening front brings light showers, plus a moderate rip current risk at ocean beaches. Call 911 if you are in danger.