Long Island's cold snap will be brief
Colleen and Deanna McCoy, sisters who grew up in Rockville Center, are all bundled up on the Mineola LIRR platform as they wait for a train to Manhattan. (Feb. 12, 2012) Credit: Newsday/Audrey C. Tiernan
Sunday's cold snap will be just a memory by Monday.
Highs on Sunday will barely reach a chilly 32 degrees, with strong gusts of wind pushing the windchill effect down to the teens.
It's "going to be the coldest day in the next several days," said David Stark, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton.
The winds, which could gust up to 35 miles per hour, are slated to slow to 20 miles per hour by Sunday evening, Stark said. Sunday afternoon could see a slight chance of snow flurries in isolated areas, but they will quickly clear up as clouds move away from Long Island, he said.
By Monday, highs will increase to about 40 degrees -- typical for the time of year, Stark said.
That will begin a warming trend for the week. Tuesday and Wednesday will be in the mid-40s, about three to five degrees higher than average, he said.
A chance of precipitation on Tuesday night remains very slight, he said.
Long Island has been the beneficiary of the La Nina atmospheric pattern, which has pushed the colder air north of the region and kept the winter mild. Stark said the La Niña effect will likely change by spring and summer to a more neutral pattern, meaning weather patterns in those seasons will be unpredictable.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
