Rain in St. Lawrence County to start this afternoon, forecasters say; Wednesday, wind gusts could top 45 mph

Rain is expected to move into the North Country this afternoon and continue Wednesday, falling off for a while before resuming as snow Thursday night, with high winds gusting to 35 to 45 mph and higher in some North Country spots.

High temperature today will be in the mid 40s and reaching near 50 Wednesday. Lows tonight will drop only to about 40 degrees, the NWS says.

A warm front is bringing widespread rain and some mountain snow to the North Country. A strong cold front follows, moving east across the area on Wednesday and bringing another round of widespread showers with the possibility of a few thunderstorms.

Behind the front Wednesday afternoon and evening, strong west to southwest winds are expected to develop across the area, possibly gusting as high as 60 mph across northern New York, the weather service warns.

Colder and drier air moves in for Thursday with below normal temperatures expected. Another storm system moves back into the region late Thursday night and Friday for more rain and snow.

The NWS forecast for the St. Lawrence Valley and northwestern Adirondacks:

• Today: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 46. East wind around 6 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

• Tonight: Rain. Low around 41. East wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

• Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11am, then showers likely. High near 50. Windy, with a southwest wind 7 to 17 mph increasing to 19 to 29 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

• Wednesday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers before 8pm, then a chance of snow showers between 8pm and 2am. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 21. Breezy, with a west wind 16 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

• Thursday Night: Snow showers likely after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. South wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

• Friday: Snow showers before noon, then rain and snow showers. High near 35. South wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

• Friday Night: Snow showers likely, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

• Saturday: A chance of snow showers before 2pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. West wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

• Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. West wind 5 to 8 mph.

• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. West wind 5 to 8 mph.

• Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.

• Monday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.