Syracuse, N.Y. -- Flood watches have been issued for nearly all of Upstate New York as a storm system moves in that could drop 1 to 3 inches of rain over the next few days.
An inch of rain could fall tonight, followed by an inch or two Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.
“The resulting runoff into area watersheds is expected to cause significant rises on area rivers with a potential for flooding beginning by Thursday morning,” the weather service said in a flood watch for much of Central New York and the Southern Tier.
Winds will pick up Wednesday, too, with gusts approaching 50 mph.
Temperatures will also start falling Wednesday, so rain will change over to snow, especially at higher elevations. More than 7 inches of wet snow is possible on Tug Hill and in the Adirondacks later this week.
Winter storm watches are in effect in those areas from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday evening.
“Travel could be very difficult with slushy, snow-covered roads and poor visibility,” the weather service said.
Counties in green are under a flood watch through Thursday, and counties shaded in blue are under a winter storm watch Wednesday through Thursday.National Weather Service