Long Island weather: Rain and cool temps, sun returns later Thursday
Gerardo Mejilla, 25, of Centerport, fishes on a gray and wet afternoon at Centerport Beach on Wednesday. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Wednesday is bringing on and off rain and cool day temperatures to much of Long Island, the National Weather Service said. But the sun is forecast to return by Thursday afternoon.
The high was in the mid-60s Wednesday, an unusually cool day especially when compared to much of the rest of the country.
Ocean breezes are shielding the New York region from the heat now baking the Southeast, thanks to a couple of rain-creating low pressure systems, the weather service’s Weather Prediction Center explained.
“Cooler temperatures will be noted over the Northeast and portions of the Mid-Atlantic where proximity of an upper low off the East Coast and a surface low pressure center near the coastal Mid-Atlantic region will favor cooler onshore flow,” it said.
Developing south to southeast swells will create a moderate risk of riptides Wednesday and Thursday.
Showers are likely Wednesday night as well but the forecast calls for a drier overnight, followed by the chance for more rain Thursday morning.
As much as half an inch of rain could fall, the weather service said. But the sun will return Thursday afternoon, forecasters said.
“Much of the area should begin drying with only scattered showers possible through late tonight and into Thursday,” the weather service said. “By Thursday morning, the main area of showers should be confined to the Western portion of the area or even remain west of the area altogether."
And, the weather service said, “Showers should remain quite limited during the day on Thursday and even less so into Thursday night.”
There is a 30% chance of showers Thursday night.
Friday brings back the sun, courtesy of an arriving high pressure system. The cool air in these systems falls to the Earth, compressing and warming, and thus discouraging clouds.
Mostly sunny skies are forecast for Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, southerly breezes will raise the daytime temperature into the low 80s, according to the weather service.
And then, a low pressure system descends from the Great Lakes, sending a cold front towards New York that could set off showers, starting Sunday night.
The rainfall odds are 50% Sunday night, 60% Monday and ease to 50% that night.
Tuesday, however, should see the skies start clearing, with the chances of showers estimated at only 30%.
