Rain is the story for this Mother’s Day weekend in New York City — but the forecast has a silver lining. Saturday is a washout, Sunday morning is beautiful, and then storms come back. Here’s how to work the weather for your outdoor plans across all five boroughs.
The Weekend in Three Acts
Act 1: Saturday, May 9 — Rain and Possible Thunderstorms
Widespread rain arrives across all five boroughs through the day. Rain totals could reach 0.5 to 1 inch citywide, with embedded thunderstorms possible. The severe threat is marginal, but any thunder is enough reason to clear the parks and beaches. Highs reach the mid-60s. Parks will be green and lush after this rain — but walking conditions will be slippery throughout the day.
Beaches — Coney Island (Brooklyn), Rockaway/Jacob Riis (Queens), Orchard Beach (Bronx), and South Beach and Wolfe’s Pond Park (Staten Island) — are inadvisable today. Rockaway Beach does not open for its regular lifeguard season until Memorial Day (May 25), so this weekend it would have been unsupervised anyway.
Act 2: Saturday Night Through Sunday Morning — The Window
Rain is expected to taper off Saturday evening, setting up a beautiful first half of Mother’s Day. Sunday morning should bring sunshine and temperatures climbing toward the mid-to-upper 70s — the best outdoor stretch of the entire weekend. If you’re planning any outdoor Mother’s Day activity, this is your moment.
Act 3: Sunday Afternoon and Evening — Storms Return
By Sunday late afternoon and evening, rain and embedded thunderstorms are expected to return. The severe threat on Sunday is also marginal. Plan outdoor Mother’s Day activities for the morning and have an indoor backup ready for the afternoon.
Source: CBS New York First Alert Forecast, issued May 8, 2026 at 11:33 PM EDT. Underlying data: National Weather Service New York (OKX), weather.gov/okx.
Parks by Borough: Saturday vs. Sunday Morning
Manhattan — Central Park, Hudson River Park, Riverside Park
Saturday: Skip the Sheep Meadow (mud pit by midday) and the Bethesda Fountain area (wet stone). The Mall will be slippery. Hudson River Park piers will be gusty and rain-soaked. If you’re running the Central Park loop, it’s doable in rain gear but the reservoir trail will have puddles.
Sunday AM: Central Park in early May morning sunshine after a rain is one of the city’s great scenes. The reservoir loop trail will be wet but walkable. Riverside Park along the Hudson will be excellent for a walk. Book your outdoor Mother’s Day brunch for Sunday morning — and not Sunday night.
Brooklyn — Prospect Park, Coney Island, Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday: Prospect Park’s stone paths near the Concert Grove and Nethermead will be muddy and slippery. Coney Island boardwalk will be rain-soaked. Brooklyn Bridge Park piers (Pier 1, 2, 6) will be wet and windy, with choppy views across the East River.
Sunday AM: Prospect Park after a good rain is gorgeous — the Long Meadow will be saturated, so stay on the paths. Coney Island boardwalk will be in recovery mode: wet sand, but the boardwalk itself and the Nathan’s area will be accessible and quiet before the crowds arrive. L train service is split this weekend — transfer at Broadway Junction.
Queens — Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Rockaway Beach, Jamaica Bay
Saturday: Flushing Meadows will be wet throughout. The Unisphere area and fountains will be rain-soaked. Rockaway Beach has no lifeguards until Memorial Day — and today’s rain and storm conditions make any visit inadvisable regardless.
Sunday AM: A morning walk in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park after the rain will be clear and pleasant. Note: The 7 train is not running between 74 St-Broadway and 34 St-Hudson Yards through Monday 3:30 AM. The LIRR is accommodating subway riders at no additional charge this weekend from Flushing, Mets-Willets Point, Woodside, Penn Station, and Grand Central Madison — a legitimate alternative for Queens park access.
The Bronx — Pelham Bay Park, Van Cortlandt Park, New York Botanical Garden
Saturday: Pelham Bay Park trails and Orchard Beach will be wet. Twin Islands trail will be muddy. Van Cortlandt Park’s cross-country course will be swamped.
Sunday AM: The New York Botanical Garden is open Sundays and this is one of the best spots to catch a post-rain Sunday morning before the afternoon storms roll in. Early May bloom season makes the timing exceptional. Check NYBG.org for Sunday hours before heading out. Pelham Bay Park’s shoreline walk could be a quiet, beautiful post-rain experience Sunday morning — one of the most underrated coastal walks in the city.
Staten Island — Conference House Park, Greenbelt, South Beach
Saturday: All trail parks on Staten Island will be muddy. South Beach boardwalk is walkable in rain gear but the surf will be choppy from Saturday’s system.
Sunday AM: Staten Island has the potential for the cleanest Sunday morning air in the five boroughs after a good rain. The Greenbelt’s forest trails will be damp but beautiful. Conference House Park’s beach walk offers a quiet post-storm Atlantic shoreline moment — one of the closest things NYC has to a secluded coastal escape. Get there early before the Sunday afternoon storms return.
Mother’s Day Outdoor Planning Guide
- Outdoor brunch reservation: Request Sunday before noon. By 3–4 PM, rain and thunder could return.
- Park picnic: Sunday morning. Bring a waterproof blanket — grass will be damp from Saturday’s rain.
- Beach trip: Sunday morning window is real but brief. No lifeguards at any NYC beach until Memorial Day (May 25).
- Botanical garden visit: Sunday morning is ideal — post-rain greenery at peak May bloom before Sunday afternoon storms.
- Neighborhood walking tour: Sunday AM is perfect weather for a slow family walk through a neighborhood, with the city quiet and washed clean after Saturday’s rain.
- Bike ride: Saturday hard no. Sunday AM is possible but paths will still be wet — keep speed down on slick surfaces.
Weekend MTA Impacts for Park Travelers
Getting to parks this weekend? Plan around these service changes, verified from the MTA Weekender May 8–11, 2026:
- Rockaway / Queens beach access: 7 train not running between 74 St-Broadway and 34 St-Hudson Yards through Monday 3:30 AM. LIRR available at no additional cost from Flushing, Mets-Willets Point, and Woodside.
- Coney Island / Brighton Beach: D trains skip 18 Av to Kings Hwy nonstop; J/Z trains skip Ralph Av and Rockaway Av.
- Pelham Bay Park / Orchard Beach: Manhattan-bound 4/5 trains skip Mosholu Pkwy; 6 running express from Parkchester.
- L train (East Brooklyn / Canarsie): Split at Broadway Junction; transfer required to continue in either direction.
Full service change details at mta.info/alerts.
Sources: National Weather Service New York (OKX) | CBS New York First Alert Forecast, May 8, 2026 | MTA Weekender May 8–11, 2026
