Falling temperatures this week before a Thanksgiving warmup, forecasters say

Seasonably cool weather with a bit of sun peaking through the clouds is expected Sunday on Long Island before temperatures drop to near freezing at night and sunny but below-normal temperatures usher in the week, forecasters said.

"You better get out there and enjoy it now," said Faye Barthold, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Upton. Temperatures should top out in the low 50s before steadily dropping until 6 p.m. when they dip into the mid-40s, Barthold said.

"The temperature's going to fall a few degrees throughout the day across the island . . . then afterward it steadily falls. It'll be a mostly cloudy day but the rain has already moved out pretty much except for Montauk."

Lows in the pine barrens during the late-night hours will drop to 31 in the pine barrens and 34 or 35 in Nassau County.

"Monday is the cold day -- we get only into the mid-40s -- that's about five to ten degrees below normal," Barthold said. "It should be a sunny day, just cool." Highs will be in the mid-40s and lows will be in the upper 20s to near freezing, Barthold said.

Plenty of sun is predicted for Tuesday with highs in the mid-40s. Lows will fall into the mid-30s for much of Long Island and will be in the 20s again in the Pine Barrens.

More sun is in the Wednesday forecast with highs near 50 and lows close to 40.

Temperatures are expected to warm up on Thanksgiving with more sun and highs in the mid-50s. Lows will be in the low to mid-40s.

Friday starts the weekend with even warmer weather. Highs climb into the upper 50s and lows will be in the mid-40s.

"The normal for this time of year is a high around 50 and lows in the 30s so Monday's definitely below average but by the end of the week we're above average," Barthold said.