Rain forecast to fall on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, millions of onlookers

It is going to rain on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and upon its millions of paradegoers, according to the National Weather Service, which is now calling for a 100% chance of precipitation across the region Thursday.

After all of Long Island and much of the metropolitan area was plagued by drought in early November, forecasters now predict Nassau and Suffolk will likely see above-average rainfall for the month — much-needed precipitation that should decrease any risk of brush fires.

The weather service said average monthly rainfall tracked at Islip is 2.76 inches for November. So far this month, Islip had recorded 2.6 inches of rain before the rain Tuesday. The bulk of that, 2.26 inches, was recorded Thursday.

Much of the metro area awoke to rain Tuesday.

Any notion of clearing skies will be brief. The weather service said clouds will increase on Long Island Wednesday, with rain returning overnight into Thanksgiving.

The forecast is for rain throughout the day and into the night on Thanksgiving, with mostly sunny skies Friday and Saturday.

Temperatures will hover in the low 50s Wednesday, then climb to about 56 degrees Thursday before highs drop into the 40s on Friday and Saturday. Overnight lows in the 30s are expected the rest of the week — until this weekend, when they're forecast to fall into the 20s.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”