Steve Orr

@SOrr1

Umbrella, raincoat, rubber boots — we'll need all that and more to make it through the next several days, when more than two inches is forecast for the Rochester region.

The National Weather Service has already issued a flood watch, which could well escalate into a warning. Some local creeks, already running high, could hit minor flood stage. Street flooding is possible as well, especially in places where debris from the intense March storms still cover storm drains.

Clearing those drains might be in order before the rain starts.

The flood watch covers Monroe, Ontario, Livingston and counties to the west. Rain is expected to be heavier in the western portion of that area, the weather service said. As of Wednesday morning, the hydrologic forecast called for Black Creek in western Monroe County to be at minor flood stage by Friday morning, with the Genesee River, Oatka, Honeoye and other local creeks just below flood stage by Friday.

The heavier rain is expected to lighten up but not stop Thursday night and Friday. Totals of two to nearly three inches are expected.

ROCHESTER WEATHER: Forecast, maps and more

DATABASE: Weather records for every date

Just to make things more unpleasant, temperatures will fall Friday and the rain could change over to snow for a brief time.

Skies aren't forecast to clear until late Saturday and on Sunday, when the temperature will rise into the low 60's.

By Monday, all will be forgiven — we'll be in the 70's with sunny skies.

This part of upstate New York, if you recall, endured a severe drought last summer. This spring must be the anti-drought.

Rochester breaks rainfall record for March 31

Rochester measured 4.66 inches of precipitation last month, more than two inches above average. We had nearly an inch in the first four days of April; if the forecast holds, the area will exceed the monthly average in just the first week of April.

SORR@Gannett.com