Prepare for Heavy Rain Christmas Eve Followed By Flash Freeze

Weather forecasters say Binghamton-area residents should be ready for a warmup with rain that could cause some flooding and then a sudden drop in temperatures for Christmas Day.

The National Weather Service says a storm system will bring warm temperatures along with a soaking rain on Thursday. Snowmelt combined with possibly heavy rainfall could cause ponding on roadways and in poor drainage areas.

There will be a potential for flooding. Another concern is the heavy weight from last week's snow combined with the rain that could result in roof collapses.

Warning coordination meteorologist David Nicosia said he's concerned because of the possibility of up to two inches of rain associated with the storm system.

While high temperatures on Thursday could rise above 50, much colder air will overspread the region on Christmas Eve. That could lead to a "flash freeze" leading to icy roads on Christmas morning.

The predicted high temperature on Friday is 25 degrees below the expected high of the previous day.