Long Island weather: Nicole arrives Friday evening with rain, high winds, departs early Saturday

Remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole will arrive Friday afternoon on Long Island, colliding with another wet system and bringing tropical downpours and up to 50 mph winds for several hours before departing Saturday, the National Weather Service said.

The weather service, in a Thursday evening statement, said Nicole will weaken as it leaves the South and approaches the metropolitan area and "The remnant tropical moisture will interact with the larger frontal system bringing moderate to locally heavy rainfall, isolated thunderstorms, strong winds, and rough marine conditions as it moves across the region late Friday into early Saturday morning.

There is a wind advisory in effect from 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday morning at 10 a.m. with 20 mph to 30 mph sustained winds and 50 mph gusts expected on Long Island, as well as possible thunderstorms and even a brief tornado. About an inch and half of rain is expected with a "reasonable worst case scenario" of more than 2 inches, the weather service said.

In a statement, Gov. Kathy Hochul said: "If you are planning to travel Friday and Saturday, please use caution and check local weather conditions before heading out." Higher rain amounts are expected in western and central New York.

The weather service said, "There is a low probability of localized minor coastal flood impacts along the south shore of Nassau County during the time of high tide Saturday morning," as well as 10- to 14-foot breaking surf along the oceanfront late Friday night into Saturday afternoon that could cause beach flooding and erosion during high tide Saturday morning.

Daytime highs for Friday will be unusually warm, 68 degrees, and rising to 72 degrees Saturday. But the mercury falls then to a high of 55 degrees Sunday and markedly cooler temperatures are arriving from there during the week.

 “Strong high pressure continues to build in through early next week bringing the coldest and driest airmass of the season,” the weather service said.

Once the storm leaves early Saturday, the sun will come out by afternoon, continuing through Sunday. There is a slight chance of precipitation through Monday, but expect mostly sunny skies until Tuesday night, when the rainfall odds are 40%, and on Wednesday, when the chances are 50%, the weather service said.