LI forecast: Summer starts with a chance for rain

The first day of summer on Tuesday will hold a chance of showers, potentially followed by more rain Wednesday and Thursday before sunshine and clear skies return on the weekend.

The summer solstice begins Tuesday at 5:13 a.m., a welcome change of season for Long Islanders eager for warmer temperatures at the beach and pools.

But forecasters said there is a 20% chance of showers Tuesday afternoon, with the risk growing as the day wears on. The high temperature will be about 73 degrees and the low about 62, forecasters said. 

"It's an increase in the thickening of cloud cover," Jay Engel, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton said Monday of Tuesday's conditions. "And then the chances for rain start to increase very late in the day into the evening."

Showers are predicted on and off Wednesday, with temperatures ranging from the low-70s down to the mid-60s, the weather service said. 

Then, on Thursday, there is a 50% risk of rain during the day with a high of 72. But partly sunny conditions should prevail in the afternoon before a mostly sunny Friday and a high of 78 degrees. 

"I don't think it's gonna be a complete washout but kind of on and off and just unsettled," Engel said. "Lots of clouds right through Thursday."

There is still a slight chance of a shower on Friday, he said.

"More likely we'll get a break," Engel said. "And after having temperatures, especially during the daytime, run a bit below normal and being hard-pressed to get out of the 70s, we get close to 80 on Friday.

Next weekend figures to be beautiful, with sunshine and temperatures just breaking 80 both Saturday and Sunday, forecasters said.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.