High of 71 degrees breaks record for Long Island, cooler temps on the way

Thursday’s peak temperature in Islip — a high of 71 degrees — was the highest on record for a Feb. 16, or indeed any day in February, according to the National Weather Service.

But cooler weather is coming.

The previous record at Islip on that date, set in 2018, was 59 degrees, the weather service said; the monthly record for February there was 68 degrees.

Other records broken: Kennedy at 64 degrees (previous, 61 degrees in 1976); LaGuardia at 69 (tied with 1954).

John Cristantello, a weather service meteorologist, said the unseasonably warm temperatures were attributed to storms tracking north and west of the area.

"Things could change. There could be a pattern shift," he said. "There is a possibility that we have a few weeks where it's averaging below normal."

A cold front is coming through Friday, with temperatures in the mid-50s during the daytime, then diving to lows in the 20s at night with winds gusting up to 34 mph. The on and off rain that started Thursday is expected to last through Friday afternoon and the blustery winds will continue.

The weekend will be mostly sunny and cooler with highs on Saturday in the lower 40s, which is normal for this time of year, and about 48 Sunday. 

Still, said Cristantello: "You're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel at the end of February," he said, "that is, if you hate cold weather."

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.