Sunday storm causes LIRR delays

Wet weather and wind across Long Island Sunday caused little damage but did lead to several Long Island Rail Road delays, officials said.

Downed trees on tracks and on wires over the tracks are causing 60- to 90-minute delays on the Babylon, Far Rockaway and Long Beach branches, said Sam Zambuto, a LIRR spokesman.

There are also 15- to 30-minute delays on trains going through Jamaica because of trees across the tracks at the Rosedale and Laurelton stations and weather-related signal problems, Zambuto said. The only branch not affected is the Port Washington branch, which does not run through Jamaica Station.

The National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Long Island and the surrounding region through 9 p.m. Sunday.

Weather service meteorologist David Stark said a strong cold front from the northwest is mixing with warm, humid air over the area, increasing the likelihood of thunderstorms.

Though storms are possible on Long Island, Stark said the threat was greatest after 6 p.m.

The weather service also has a flash flood watch in effect for northeastern New Jersey and the metropolitan area, but not for Long Island.

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Isolated storms are possible Monday morning, Stark said, but on the whole, Long Island can expect dry weather and temperatures in the low 80s for the start of the workweek.