Long Island weather: ‘Brief chill for the weekend’

After two days of mild temperatures in the 50s, the feel of winter returns into the weekend, forecasters say.

Rich Hoffman, News 12 Long Island meteorologist, calls it “a brief chill for the weekend,” but with warmer conditions to follow next week.

With Long Island MacArthur Airport registering 46 degrees shortly before 3 p.m. Friday, feeling colder thanks to gusty conditions, look for a dip down to around 30 degrees by 11 p.m., the National Weather Service said.

Then the temperatures drop again to the low 20s for early morning Saturday, which is expected to warm up only to the low 30s.

As if that’s not enough winter for you, there’s also a chance — slight, to be sure — for light snow in the Saturday afternoon into the evening hours. That could amount to “a passing flurry or snow shower,” said Joe Pollina, weather service meteorologist based in Upton.

Sunday brings a bounce back to sunny skies with highs of around 40 degrees, with a similar forecast for Monday, which is Martin Luther King Day.

Then comes a tilt toward above normal temperatures for a stretch, according to the Climate Prediction Center, which offers no guidance as to how much higher than normal or the possibility of a bit of colder air sneaking in at some point.

The prediction center was indicating a more than 90 percent probability for above normal temperatures from Jan. 16 to Jan. 20 — make that a more than 80 percent probability for Jan. 18 to Jan. 24.

Normal temps for that stretch from Jan. 16 to Jan. 24 average out to an overall 30 degrees, with average highs of 38 and lows of 23, according to the Northeast Regional Climate Center.

What to thank for a respite from multiple layers of clothing?

“A ridge in the jet stream, along with strong westerly flow from the Pacific Ocean, are bringing the warmer-than-usual temperatures,” said Jessica Spaccio, climatologist with the regional climate center.