Rain, Mild Air to Greet Spectators at 2015 NYC Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist

November 30,2015; 11:30PM,EST

 

 

Tens of thousands will gather in rainy and mild conditions at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, for the 83rd annual Christmas tree lighting.
A slow-moving storm system will affect the city and much of the Northeast on Wednesday with wet weather and travel delays.

"Intermittent rain, drizzle and fog will affect New York City during the day Wednesday and into the evening hours, so people will want to wear a raincoat and waterproof shoes," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams said.
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Enough rain will fall to cause large puddles to form on city streets. Pedestrians will want to walk with caution due to the potential for poor visibility at times and the threat of being sprayed by passing cars.
People attending the festivities from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. EST can leave their heavy coats and scarves at home.
"With temperatures hovering in the 50s through Wednesday evening, people will not have to brave frigid conditions, nor bundle up for dear life," Abrams said.
The 78-foot-tall Norway Spruce will be adorned with approximately 30,000 LED lights and a Swarovski Star, according to NYC Insider Guide.
In a Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, file photo, a Norway Spruce at least 75 feet high, from Gardiner, N.Y., draws attention after being placed in its new location as the 2015 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
When lit, the tree should be a bright spot at the end of a rainy day in Manhattan.
AccuWeather long-range meteorologists are anticipating above-average temperatures in New York City and throughout the Northeast states during much of December.
According to AccuWeather Meteorologists Ben Noll, "Opportunities for snow much of this month will be slim along the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts."
Noll stated that there are some signs the weather may turn colder toward the tail end of the month, but how cold and whether or not snow will be involved is uncertain this far out.