Long Island temperatures set record high

Long Islanders will get a chance to discover more summer-like weather today, with Columbus Day temperatures forecast to hit 80 degrees again.

Temperatures made yesterday feel anything but fall-like as Long Island notched a record high and people basked in the October warmth.

According to the National Weather Service, Sunday's mid- to high-80s across Long Island set a record.

In Islip, Sunday's 85-degree high broke the town's previous record of 79 degrees for an Oct. 9 day set in 1990, said John Murray, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Upton.

"These temperatures are close to 20 degrees above normal," Murray said. "We had very sunny skies. It's great outdoor weather."

By 3 p.m. Sunday, most temperatures across Long Island were hovering around 84 degrees, Murray said. Pressure in the atmosphere created the warm weather, he said.

At Schmitt's Family Farm in Melville, thousands of people basked in the rays while picking pumpkins, enjoying hayrides, and nibbling on fall treats.

William Schmitt, whose father started the farm in 1951, now runs it along with family members.

"Today was really busy," he said. "People were happy to be outside. It was a pleasant, comfortable day."

Schmitt said the owners don't count their visitors, but that Columbus Day weekend or the weekend after, depending on the weather, are always their busiest times.

Frankie Globuschutz, 47, of Huntington, visited Schmitt's Family Farm with his wife and two children.

"I'm loving it. It's just a great day to be with the family. Another week or two and it'll be back to freezing for six months. We aren't looking forward to that," he said.

While today should be only slightly cooler than Sunday, wet weather and temperatures into the low-70s are expected by Tuesday night and into Friday, Murray said.