New York Today: Let It Rain

John Minchillo/Associated Press At least it’s not snow.

Updated 10:34 a.m. Good Wednesday morning. Remember that thing called an umbrella?

It’s going to pour this afternoon. We’re very sorry.

But the earth, at least, could use some rain.

It’s been a dry month so far, with rainfall way below normal.

We’re in no danger of drought, thanks to an unusually wet winter.

(Hint: snow counts as water.)

But today’s rain could begin to make up for March’s precipitation deficit.

The rain will begin around 4, grow heavy during rush hour, and continue after dark.

“There could even be an isolated rumble of thunder,” said David Stark, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

Temperatures will be more or less like Tuesday’s, with highs in the mid- to upper-50s.

But after dark, the mercury plunges. And plunges.

It will be freezing by midnight, when the rain might turn to snow.

Not much â€" a mere dusting.

On Thursday, the sun rises on an eerily frigid day.

It will be just over 20 degrees, but will feel colder for the wind.

You may miss the rain.

Here’s what else you need to know for today.

THIS JUST IN

A building collapsed in Harlem around 9:30 a.m. Here’s the latest.

COMMUTE

Subways: Check latest status.

Rails: Check L.I.R.R., Metro-North or N.J. Transit status.

Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s.

Alternate-side parking is in effect for the first time on a Wednesday since Jan. 15. If you live on a Wednesday street and it’s filthy, this may be why.

COMING UP TODAY

- A big day for reports: The Coalition for the Homeless releases its annual state of the homeless, at its downtown office. 11 a.m. …

- … And housing advocates announce a report on mold in public housing, post-Hurricane Sandy. City Hall steps. 11 a.m.

- The city’s first lady, Chirlane McCray, speaks at the opening of Manhattan’s Family Justice Center, for domestic violence victims. 80 Centre Street. 11 a.m.

- Mayor de Blasio hosts the U.N. secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, at City Hall. 2 p.m.

- The city has 80,000 new street trees. Learn to care for them at a workshop in Crown Heights. 1:30, rain or shine. [Free, R.S.V.P.]

- A rally outside the New York Public Library to stop planned renovations and the sale of the Mid-Manhattan branch. 5 p.m., rain or shine.

- The four-day Twitter Fiction Festival kicks off with a live storytelling event, featuring the “Goosebumps” author R. L. Stine, at Subculture NYC in NoHo. 6 p.m. [$15]

- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie reads from her novel, “Americanah” at the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side. 7:30 p.m. [Free, R.S.V.P.]

- “50 Shades! The Musical â€" The Original Parody” opens at the Elektra Theatre in Midtown. Tickets available beginning Friday. [$49 and up]

- Opening reception for “Canine Kingdom,” a collection of lushly acerbic photos of the Westminster dog show, at the Half King in Chelsea. 7:30 p.m. [Free]

- For more events, see The New York Times Arts & Entertainment guide.

IN THE NEWS

- Mayor de Blasio celebrated a drop in crime during his first two months in office. The police commissioner thanked Jack Frost. [New York Times]

- “Group in more, people.” The mayor took a selfie with the City Hall press corps. [New York Times]

- A Long Island hospital warned 4,247 patients of possible blood contamination from an insulin syringe. [Newsday]

- The Hudson is melting, and some ferry service has resumed. It’s been suspended since January. [Lohud]

- A friendly map of the city’s 311 complaints has arrived, complete with cartoonish icons. [Herehere.com via Daily News]

- We’ve waited nine years for three public toilets. At this rate, all 20 will open in 2065. [New York Times]

- A theater director says the kale salad delivered to her workplace contained the head of a lizard. [NBC]

- In other lizard news: “Dungeons and Dragons” yoga comes to Brooklyn. “It’s very earthy,” says its creator. [Brooklyn Paper]

- Scoreboard: Hurricanes upend Rangers, 3-1. Devils scorch Flyers, 2-1.

AND FINALLY …

The biggest name in hip-hop today?

Fernando Cabrera.

The Bronx councilman has invited several “hip-hop pioneers” to City Hall.

At 12:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers, honors will be doled out to D.J. Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Melle Mel, and more.

We can think of no better way to begin this gloomy day than watching Mr. Blow perform “The Breaks,” his breakthrough 1980 hit, on “Soul Train.”

The councilman also plans to announce that the Hip-Hop Museum is moving into the Kingsbridge Armory.

You may pay your compliments to Mr. Cabrera, via text.

Just “Text-Ur-Councilman.”

Joseph Burgess and Andy Newman contributed reporting.

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Shoveling In a Parking Space

Dear Diary:

While stopped at a traffic light on an Upper East Side corner, I observed a young man lifting massive hunks of icy snow, methodically putting them down in the street and then standing back as if to check his work. This creative fellow had pulled out his car and was carefully arranging snow mountains in his former spot to discourage other drivers from taking it. Given the slow removal of snow, that spot may very well have been waiting for him when he returned and removed the icy barriers.

Read all recent entries and our updated submissions guidelines. Reach us via email diary@nytimes.com or follow @NYTMetro on Twitter using the hashtag #MetDiary.

Metro-North Service Restored After Explosion in Harlem

Damon Winter/The New York Times Police examined the debris on the Metro-North Railroad tracks near the scene where two buildings collapsed Wednesday.

Updated, 5:12 p.m.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Wednesday afternoon that it had restored all Metro-North Railroad service into and out of Grand Central Terminal. Service was disrupted after two buildings collapsed in East Harlem, killing at least two people.

The collapses occurred beside Metro-North’s tracks above Park Avenue. The authority said the railroad’s structural engineers had “verified the integrity” of the structure. After debris had been cleared and inspectors evaluated the tracks and third rails, two of four tracks were restored, allowing some New Haven and Harlem line service to return. When the other two tracks were opened a short while later, Hudson line service was restored as well.

Trains are expected to run at reduced speeds near the collapse site “to protect nearby employees and reduce vibrations as rescue and recovery work continues,” the authority said. Riders were told to expect delays and crowding through the evening rush.