Long Island weather: Chance of severe storms, damaging winds Wednesday

Long Island saw some showers move through Wednesday morning, with the potential remaining for an isolated shower or thunderstorm through the afternoon and evening, forecasters said.

Western Long Island was more likely to see any of those isolated showers and storms that might develop, with most of the heavier effects expected for areas to the north and west of New York City, said David Wally, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Upton.

Those areas are more likely to see severe storms that could bring damaging winds, even an isolated tornado or waterspout, he said. Any isolated storm on the Island could also deliver such threats, though the probability is low.

The weather service also warned of a high rip current risk until 9 p.m. Wednesday at ocean beaches.

The precipitation is associated with a warm front moving to the north of the area in the coming hours, he said in the late morning Wednesday.

News 12 meteorologist Rich Hoffman said there were spotty showers across the Island early Wednesday, “but today is not a washout,” and there could be breaks of sunshine in the afternoon. "It’s humid for the most part," Hoffman said.

Temperatures were expected to reach the low 80s.

As of just before noon, the temperature at Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma was 79 degrees and skies were overcast.

Predawn temperatures Wednesday were in the mid-70s, about 10 degrees higher than the same time Tuesday, and the daytime highs Wednesday were expected to be in the mid-80s, the weather service said.

Thursday will be partly sunny with a high in the mid-80s, and Friday brings a chance of showers with temperatures also topping out in the mid-80s, the weather service said.

The weekend looks like a mixed bag: a chance of showers and thunderstorms Saturday and partly sunny skies Sunday, the weather service said.

Temperatures both weekend days will be in the mid- to upper 80s, the weather service said.