An unusual May nor'easter soaked New England on Thursday and threatened to bring snow to higher elevations as the states prepared for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.Nor'easters usually arrive in the end of fall and winter and bring high winds,

Nor’easter is about to impact New England ahead of Memorial Day weekend, bringing three inches of rain and up to 50 mph winds.

A rare, late-season nor’easter will hit Boston and much of New England through Friday before the holiday weekend, with wind gusts up to 50 mph and the possibility of coastal flooding, according to the National Weather Service.

Rhode Island and southern and eastern Massachusetts could get 2 inches of rain, while higher elevations could get snow.

The worst of the storm was forecast for Thursday, when wind gusts of up to 50 mph or more could roar along the coast.

The NWS forecasts that this week's nor'easter will start in New Hampshire with scattered rain showers late Wednesday night. Widespread, soaking rain will cover the state throughout Thursday and Friday, with over one inch of rain accumulation likely in most areas.

Expect unpleasant weather in the second half of this week and pencil in extra time if you are traveling, including from Philadelphia to New York City, Hartford, Providence and Boston.

Nor’easters are characterized by their strong winds out of the northeast and often bring wind, rain and chilly temperatures to the New England region. They are most commonly seen between September and April; a late May nor’easter is quite rare.

Stormy preholiday weather figures to impact travel headed into Memorial Day weekend as a potential Nor'easter expected in New England should miss Long Island, forecasters said. And, forecasters now say much of that weather should clear for Saturday, Sunday and Monday — a major plus for holiday celebrations across Long Island.

Thunderstorms that could pack high winds, large hail, flash flooding and a few tornadoes will extend from parts of Texas through Nebraska.