Long Island forecast: Weather whiplash ahead as normal March temperatures return

Long Islanders who enjoyed warm temperatures early this week may feel weather whiplash on Thursday, as forecasters called for potential rain and even a few snowflakes while temperatures return to average March numbers.

After above-average temperatures on Tuesday, Wednesday followed suit with highs in the mid-to-upper 60s with mostly dry conditions.

Temperatures peaked earlier in the day as offshore winds cooled Long Island during the afternoon. Wednesday night will see a likely chance of thunderstorms into Thursday morning, National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Goodman said.

But don’t expect warm temperatures to remain: "This unseasonably mild stretch comes to an end today," Goodman said.

Temperatures will return to typical March numbers the rest of the week, with highs on Thursday in the upper 40s to low 50s, added Weather Service meteorologist James Tomasini.

Thursday will see rain throughout the day, starting in the morning and continuing through the afternoon, while snowflakes could start falling in the early evening hours, Tomasini said

"We're not expecting any accumulation as the ground temperatures are going to be too warm," he said.

Thursday night drops below freezing, with lows in the upper 20s and lower 30s.

The weekend will see an extended stretch of typical late winter temperatures, with highs in the mid-to-upper 40s and lows in the 30s. Saturday night may also see lows hitting below freezing temperatures in the upper 20s and lower 30s.

Although Friday's forecast notes a slight chance of rain, Saturday and Sunday will remain mostly dry for St. Patrick’s Day weekend events.

A system on Sunday night will bring precipitation Sunday night into Monday.

While Monday will see highs in the 50s, the luck of the Irish may run out on Tuesday — St. Patrick’s Day — with highs in the upper 30s to lower 40s.

Newsday's Robert Broasky contributed to this story.