Long Island weather: Cooler and less humid

Wednesday will be a less intense summer day, with sunshine but a lower daytime high of 86 degrees, forecasters said.

The day will also be less humid, News 12 Long Island meteorologist Rich Hoffman said. Most of the day will be dry, but a "pop up" shower or storm is possible in the afternoon, he said.

While there is a slight — 20% chance — of showers on Thursday and Friday, the weekend promises sunshine and highs in the mid-80s, the National Weather Service said.

Highs on Thursday and Friday are expected to be in the mid- to upper 80s.

Thank a cold front expected to linger in the area for interrupting the recent searing heat.

"A cold front will become nearly stationary just south of Long Island," the weather service said.

And it will be succeeded by a second. 

"Another cold front will move across the region on Thursday," the meteorologists said.

The beach-pleasing weekend may end with downpours Sunday night, according to the forecasters. They put the odds of showers at 40% after midnight and there is a 50/50 chance of storms both Monday and Tuesday.

Highs both days are predicted to be in the low 80s.

Despite possible rain early next week, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday put Long Island and three other places — the Upper Hudson/Mohawk area, the Adirondacks and the St. Lawrence area — under a drought watch, and urged residents to limit how much water they use.

Though the Island has gotten an average amount of rain this July — around three inches — that was not the case earlier this year, partly because there were fairly few winter storms, said weather service meteorologist Matthew Wunsch.

From January to July, he estimated the shortfall at "just about 6 inches of less rain than where we should be," he said.