Long Island forecast: LI under flood watch as rain arrives overnight and Tuesday

Mother Nature is finally bringing some significant rain to Long Island, with a slight risk of flash flooding possible for the region overnight and through Tuesday, after several weeks in which showers were practically nonexistent.

Long Island is under flood watch through Tuesday afternoon as about three quarters of an inch of rain or more is predicted overnight, with possibly two more inches Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.

The rain, while inconvenient, is still good news for Long Island, which is experiencing severe drought. And while the flood watch lasts on Long Islander until Tuesday at 5 p.m., the weather service said the heavier rain from what is called a "nearly stationary front" hovering over southern Connecticut will likely fall north and west of New York City — anywhere from 2 to 4 inches.

"There is moderate confidence in heavy rain showers and a few embedded thunderstorms developing, but it is uncertain how widespread the threat for flash flooding will be," the weather service said in a Monday evening briefing.

"Lower confidence in rainfall amounts over NE NJ, NYC, and Long Island with uncertainty in the exact position of frontal boundary," the service said.

The heaviest rainfall, wherever it goes, is expected overnight and through midday Tuesday, when the high is a cooler 76. And the weather service said there is still a slight risk of flash flooding overnight and through Tuesday at 5 p.m.

There's a 40% chance of showers Wednesday with a high near 74. On Wednesday evening, there's a 30% chance of showers forecast with a low about 60.

Thursday and Friday will be mostly sunny with highs of 78 and 82 respectively, dipping to about 60 overnight, according to the weather service.