Long Island weather: Some storms arrive, but too late to snarl commute

Showers, and even heavy rain and lightning in some areas, moved across Long Island on Wednesday as the evening rush hour neared its end, the National Weather Service said.

The rain and possible-hail forecast that had been expected to mess up the commute didn't materialize, and it was only about 6 p.m. when the Island started getting wet, said Brian Ciemnecki, a meteorologist at the service's Upton office.

But lightning struck a Westbury house on Earl Street about 7:10, forcing the occupants to rush out, Nassau police said. No injuries were reported, authorities said., Other details were not immediately available.

In Flanders, three teenagers boating on Birch Creek were rescued after their two kayaks overturned in waters roughened by the wind and rain. "They did not check the weather," said Southampton Town police spokeswoman Lt. Susan Ralph. 

One of the boaters — two of them were 18 and the other17 — called his father, who then called 911, police said. Flanders firefighter pulled them out of the waters, police said, and Southampton Town bay constables retrieved the kayaks. The teens were evaluated at the scene, and one of them was taken to the Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead for further evaluation, police said.

About .19 inches, or less than a quarter inch, had fallen in Islip by 7 p.m. Meteorologists said the clouds were expected to move out by about 10 p.m. 

"We're seeing the back end move through," Ciemnecki said shortly after 7 p.m. "We're not expecting any severe thunderstorms. We're looking at mainly rainmakers, with some embedded thunder."

The updated forecast called for a somewhat lowered risk of more severe conditions, especially for New York City, which earlier had been in an area with an enhanced risk.  

That's because temperatures were in the 50s Wednesday night. "You need heat for thunderstorms," said News 12 Long Island meteorologist Bill Korbel.

The highest threat for severe conditions is for Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, forecasters said.

One-inch hail was reported with a storm system Tuesday night in Westhampton Beach, the weather service said. Those storms dumped about an inch of hail in areas of nearby Eastport, said News 12 Long Island meteorologist Rich Hoffman. 

Temperatures in the mid-70s are expected for Thursday. The day should be mostly cloudy, again with chances of showers and thunderstorms during the evening commute, precipitation that is expected to spill into early Friday.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday should be sunny, with highs in the mid-70s.,Showers could return Sunday.

With Ellen Yan