Long Island weather: Damp, chilly start to Memorial Day weekend

Mother Nature also had plans for the summer's unofficial start: Ruining yours.

Saturday's washout across the region sullied some Memorial Day weekend celebrations, which were due to return after being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic: the bad weather led to day-of cancellations of gatherings small and large, notably the first day of the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park.

"It's unsafe," explained George Gorman, Long Island regional director, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, about the decision to call off the air show.

The weather notwithstanding, American flags were planted at grave sites at the region's military cemeteries — the reason for Memorial Day.

For Sunday, there's a 100% chance of rain with a high of 51 degrees, gusts as high as 30 mph, with rain continuing into Sunday night before the temperature goes up to 69 degrees for Memorial Day itself, with a 30% chance of rain, but it will be mostly cloudy.

Whether Sunday's show at Jones Beach — the second and last day of the holiday weekend event — will suffer the same fate as Saturday's hadn't yet been determined.

"We are hopeful for tomorrow; unfortunately, the weather looks not the greatest," Gorman told Newsday.

The show was due to return this year after a hiatus last year to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

Rip currents and possible flooding

Saturday was no day to be at the beach, either.

The heavy rain, which could cause elevated bacteria levels in Long Island's waters, prompted Nassau County to advise against swimming at 17 beaches on Saturday, health officials said. Most of those were North Shore beaches.

In Suffolk County, health officials issued an advisory against bathing at 65 beaches.

There is also a high risk of rip currents at all ocean beaches through Sunday evening and a coastal advisory for southern Nassau until 2 a.m. Sunday, with 1 to 2 feet of flooding possible in low-lying areas during high tides, the weather service said.

Monday, however, will be less breezy, though the clouds may linger into the night, the weather service said. The chance of showers is 50%.

Savor Tuesday, when it should be at least partly sunny with a high of 73 degrees.

The Wednesday-to-Friday period probably will see more rain: the odds vary from 30% to 50%, according to the weather service, with daytime highs in the mid-70s.

Flags of honor at Calverton

Saturday's cold rain did not deter at least one of the most important ways Long Islanders honor veterans on Memorial Day: the placing of American flags at the Calverton National Cemetery.

"Regardless of rain, sun, snow, sleet and hail, they went and gave their all for us, so one day a year, we can give our all for them," said John Smillie, 17, of Port Jefferson Station, with Boy Scout Troop 454. Both his grandfather and great-grandfather were veterans.

Lily Myers, of Eastport, with Troop 1641 Girl Scout Juniors of Eastport and Manorville, said she was planting flags "to thank all of the soldiers that fought in the war and have risked their lives for us to have our freedom."

Both Gorman and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, who came to plant flags by himself and joined the Scouts and other adults, said events like the air show and the placing of flags are significant markers in the journey to the pandemic's end.

"After the year we've had, through this pandemic, to see everybody out here again, placing the flags at the graves of these American heroes, it is a great, great feeling and it shows how far we've come," Bellone said, noting that COVID-19 barred last year's flag-planting at Calverton.

With Matthew Chayes