Long Island July Fourth forecast: Time for a beach party!

Long Island July Fourth festivities will kick off Monday in close-to-perfect weather — clear, sunny skies, the mid 80s, humidity on the lower side — ripe conditions for backyard barbecues or the ultimate beach day and night.

A cold front and ocean breezes are the reason for the good weather news, said Bill Goodman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Upton office.

After a cloudy morning, Sunday high's hit about 85 under sunny skies. The night is forecast to be mostly cloudless, dipping to about 63.

Humidity levels will hover between 40 and 50%, said Goodman, adding that the sea breeze and a cold front helped lower the humidity.

“It’ll be a nice dry day. It doesn't look muggy at all,” Goodman said. “This is about as good July 4 weather as you could want, unless you want hotter.”

At Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, officials are expecting an increase from the 100,000 visitors they had last year, George Gorman, New York State Parks regional director for Long Island, said Sunday.

“People were still very concerned with large gatherings and that may have been the reason last year and there wasn't as great of a forecast as we do tomorrow,” Gorman said Sunday. “We really think we’re going to have a good crowd and we are set to manage the crowd, traffic and parking, the way we have in the past.

A fireworks show is set for 9:30 p.m. Monday at Jones Beach, but Gorman advises spectators to arrive around 7:30 p.m. to beat the rush.

The weather for Independence Day is expected to be pleasant with sunny skies all day and a high in the mid 80s, according to the National Weather Service. For those near shore lines, Goodman said, the high will top out about 75 with a southern sea breeze of near 10 mph.”

He noted that the rip current risk along the beach is low as well.

But rip currents could develop along Atlantic Ocean beaches Tuesday, adding to the risks of swimming following two reported shark attacks within a week. Shark attacks off Long Island shores, however, are rare, officials have said.

Long Island shouldn’t see rain until Tuesday evening, when thunderstorms are possible, according to the weather service. Then conditions are expected to dry out Wednesday with temperatures again in the mid 80s.

with Vera Chinese