Storms and strong winds expected Saturday night, forecasters say

Strong wind slated to blow across Long Island this weekend could snap tree limbs and split power lines, forecasters said.

The National Weather Service said in a wind advisory Saturday that winds will blow from the east at 31 to 39 miles per hour with gusts of up to 45 to 57 miles per hour. The advisory, which is in effect from 11 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday, notes that overnight driving could be difficult, especially for people in tall trucks or vans.

"The greatest impacts will be closer to the immediate shorelines," the weather service said. "Strong winds may blow down limbs, trees, and power lines. Scattered power outages are expected."

The overnight winds are expected to be so bad that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has cautioned New Yorkers against "unncessary travel."

"With a warm front moving in this evening, storms may appear quickly and with little notice and I urge New Yorkers to keep a close eye on local weather reports to keep themselves and their families safe," Cuomo said in a statement Saturday.

Forecasters said there are chances of flash floods due to predicted rain Saturday night.

Heavy rain could start Saturday night with up to one inch of rain forecast overnight, according to the National Weather Service. Showers should start moving in about 6 or 7 p.m., News 12 Long Island Meteorologist Bruce Avery said, but the heaviest rain is expected to move in after midnight.

In addition to damaging wind, a weather advisory for southern Connecticut, northern Nassau County and northeastern Suffolk said there is also a chance for a "brief tornado."

The rain could let up Sunday during the day, with highs in the low 80s, but storms and rain are expected to return Sunday night and into Monday morning, with another inch of rain possible through Monday.

The chance of showers decreases Tuesday, but the forecast still calls for at least a 50 percent chance of showers Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There is also a chance of showers Friday while also being partly sunny.

Meteorologists said a stationary frontal system could bring showers and thunderstorms “capable of causing flash flooding through much of the week.”