Long Island weather: Sunny skies ahead of arctic blast later this week

There's a slight chance for a passing snow shower right around sunrise Tuesday, with rain likely for Tuesday evening and overnight, the National Weather Service said. Credit: Newsday
January may have started on a particularly mild note, but it’s going out Thursday with a blast of arctic air — a parting reminder of just which month on Long Island usually wears the crown for bitter cold.
And just before that? The likelihood of rain, then snow later Tuesday into Wednesday, thanks to a system moving out of the Great Lakes, forecasters say.
At just around 10 a.m. Monday Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma was reporting partly sunny skies and a temperature of 25 degrees, feeling like 13 with wind chill, thanks to gusty winds from the north.
The day is expected to head up to the low to mid-30s, with continuing wind chills, before an overnight dip to the mid-20s for early morning Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. That's as Tuesday's temperatures are forecast to rise to the low 40s by afternoon.
The normal daily high for Jan. 28 through Jan. 30 at the airport is 38 degrees, with 23 the normal low.
There’s a slight chance for a passing snow shower right around sunrise Tuesday, with rain likely for Tuesday evening and overnight, the weather service said.
Look for a switch to snow showers overnight, with a “brief period of moderate snow possible," a coating to an inch or so, said News 12 Long Island meteorologist Rich Hoffman. That means potential for “icy and slick roads” Wednesday morning.
Wednesday, then, goes on to deliver sunny, breezy conditions, with temperatures sticking pretty much around the mid-20s, as arctic air is settling in.
And now, here it comes — temps are expected to tumble overnight to the single digits, 3 degrees or so, for early morning Thursday, the weather service said.
The final day of January, then, with sunny skies, is expected to see temperatures rise to the midteens, followed by an overnight low of 10 or so, forecasters say.
"Blustery and very cold with a mix of sun and clouds," for Thursday, Hoffman said. There's also "a chance of flurries or "Sound Effect" snow squalls across Eastern Suffolk," with possible light accumulation.
Friday, then, with partly sunny skies, could bring highs in the mid-20s, with Saturday looking at the low 30s, the weather service said. Sunday is expected to see a rebound to the low 40s.
In preparation for this icy-cold blast affecting much of the country this week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tweeted out these best practices for dealing with extreme cold:
- Minimize time outside
- Dress in layers
- Protect hands, feet, and head
- Consider and prepare for any worst-case scenarios (car breaks down, exposure to water)

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