Long Island weather forecast: Mostly sunny, warm for week

Long Islanders can expect sunny skies and warmer temperatures for most of the workweek,  but a slight chance of showers could be in the mix for Memorial Day weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

 Mostly sunny skies with a high temperature in the lower 70s are forecast for Monday. A northeast wind of 5 to 7 mph should shift to coming out of the southeast in the afternoon. At night, the temperature will dip to around 54 with cloudy skies.

Tuesday’s forecast includes more sun with a high near 77, before turning partly cloudy at night with a low in the upper 50s.

James Tomasini, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Upton, said Sunday afternoon that this week’s temperatures “will be a few degrees above normal,” as the average for this time of the year is 70 or in the upper 60s.

Wednesday will probably be one of the warmest days of the week with a daily high of 78 degrees with sunny conditions. Clouds enter the mix at night as temperatures drop to about 60.

Conditions will be partly sunny and with a high in the upper 70s on Thursday, but the weather service says there is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation increases to 40% at night with cloudy skies and a low near 59. 

Tomasini noted that Long Island “continues to be above normal” in precipitation amounts this year.

Conditions dry up on Friday with mostly sunny skies and a high near 77 degrees.

Tomasini said there was a 20% chance of showers for Saturday and Sunday, but with sunny skies and highs in the 70s.

Many Long Islanders and state park officials are hoping Memorial Day weekend stays dry and sunny, as thousands are set to flock to Jones Beach State Park for the 20th anniversary of the Bethpage Air Show.

George Gorman, the state parks department's regional director for Long Island, said parks officials are “keeping their fingers crossed” that the weather will cooperate. If it rains, Gorman said, they will consider how long and when it will rain, as well as how it impacts visibility before making any adjustments.

“All of that will be taken into consideration if there is a threat of inclement weather,” he said.