High wind watch advisory issues for early Friday morning

The high winds heading for Long Island aren't expected to howl on trick-or-treaters, the National Weather Service said Thursday.

But a high-wind watch advisory has been issued by the service for all of Long Island from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, thanks to a huge rainstorm churning across the central states and the Great Lakes, the Upton-based service said.

Winds are expected to be coming from the southwest at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph, the weather service said. The strongest winds are expected Friday morning into the afternoon. The service cautioned that the winds may result in downed trees and scattered power outages.

A wind advisory is issued when sustained winds of 31 to 39 mph or gusts of 46 to 57 mph are expected.

The storm is pushing wet and windy weather northeast and increasing southerly winds are expected before an approaching cold front Thursday night through Friday, the service said.

Meteorologist Joey Picca said breezy weather will accompany trick-or-treaters Thursday, but those winds are likely to reach no more than 20 mph.

The storm also is expected to deliver much-needed rain to Long Island, with precipitation of between one-quarter- and one-half-inch possible.

The chance for rain ranges from 20 percent early Thursday to 90 percent Friday.