Long Island weather: Windy conditions follow thunderstorms Monday
A tree fell on a small house on Rugby Drive West in Shirley on Monday morning. Credit: James Carbone
A second round of gusty winds was arriving Monday afternoon, following a few hours of calm after an early morning system that delivered thunder, lightning, strong winds and pelting rain.
Winds out of the south were becoming westerly, and set to “really start cranking as we go through the afternoon,” said Geoff Bansen, digital meteorologist with News 12 Long Island.
A wind advisory remains in effect for Long Island through 2 a.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. West winds of 25 to 35 mph, gusting up to 45 mph, could mean downed trees, tree limbs and power lines, with scattered outagesd, the weather service said. Unsecured objects could be blown around.
Just around 3 p.m., Long Island MacArthur Airport was reporting a temperature of 60 degrees, with partly sunny skies and winds from the west, gusting to 38 mph. Normal temps for the day at the Ronkonkoma-based airport are 58 for the high and 41 the low.
Driving becomes difficult in such conditions and the weather service advises extra caution if you’re traversing open areas or elevated roads and bridges, as well as if you're behind the wheel of high-profile vehicles.
By late afternoon, precipitation had pretty much wrapped up, but there could still be a stray shower, with better chances for eastern Long Island, said weather service meteorologist John Cristantello. About three quarters of an inch fell at the airport, he said.
Earlier, Long Islanders were "rudely awakened" by a blast from Mothr Nature, Bansen said,
A tree toppled by strong winds on Murdock Street near Melville Road in South Huntington on Monday morning. Credit: Stringer News Service
Shortly before 5 a.m., Samantha Augeri, Fox 5 News meteorologist, tweeted: “Severe storms moving through NYC into Long Island and Southwestern CT. The lightning is crazy right now in Long Beach!”
While April may be noted for gentle-sounding showers, we have to remember it’s one of the transitional months between winter and summer, said Faye Morrone, weather service meteorologist. Conditions can “be ripe for clashing air masses” of cold and warm air, setting the stage for showers and sometimes strong thunderstorms.
In Nassau County, the storm briefly prompted a tornado watch, which stretched from Maryland to Connecticut. It was canceled for the county before 5:20 a.m.
Potential twisters in April are not unheard of, Morrone said. Still, when we’re talking about the real deal, June, July and especially August are prime time for tornadoes to form on the Island, though there have been outliers. Already, rain and winds did some damage overnight, said Rich Hoffman, also a News 12 Long Island meteorologist.
Suffolk County police said there were reports of downed trees in Shirley, where one broke through the roof of a house, and in South Huntington, where one fell in a yard. There were no injuries. Nassau County police had no such incidents to report.
About 3,000 customers experienced power outages before the storm ended, according to PSEG Long Island's online map.
On the Long Island Rail Road, there were 10- to 15-minute delays for a few stretches throughout the morning due to "weather-related signal trouble," the railroad said in advisories.
In Suffolk County, radar showed a line of strong thunderstorms moving through the area after 5 a.m. "Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may cause localized flooding," the weather service said in a special statement. There were marine warnings for the waters off both coasts of the Island, as well.
For Tuesday, sunny skies and breezy conditions are expected, with highs near 60 degrees. Wednesday should be slightly cooler and partly sunny, with highs in the upper 50s. Rain could return Thursday, with highs in the upper 50s.
