Syracuse, N.Y. -- The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather alert for potentially heavy rainfall this weekend in Upstate New York.

More than 5 inches of rain could fall over the weekend in the Hudson Valley, with amounts tapering to about an inch in Western New York.

"A strengthening storm system may combine with a slow moving frontal boundary to bring the potential for heavy rainfall from Saturday night through Sunday," said the alert, issued by the weather service's Binghamton office. "Both the forward speed and exact track of these systems are highly uncertain at this time."

The weather service's Weather Prediction Center says up to 5 inches of rain could fall in the Hudson Valley, tapering off to an inch or so in Western New York. Those numbers are preliminary and are likely to change as the system gets closer.

The center said a front moving toward the Northeast could draw large amounts of rain from a tropical disturbance.

"Likely incorporation of tropical moisture will lead to a threat of heavy rainfall and strong winds for portions of the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast, including over some areas that also experienced significant rainfall in the preceding event," the center said.

Any heavy rain is several days away, and the forecast is likely to change. Stay tuned to our weather page for the latest.

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