Forecast: Sun returns Thursday for Long Island dry-out
As heavy winds and rain moved in, a PSEG crew was on the scene after a large tree fell, bringing wires down in front of 148 Ruland Road in Centeach on Wednesday. Credit: Newsday/James Carbone
Long Islanders will wake up to mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 40s Thursday after enduring 24 hours of at times heavy rain and powerful gusts.
A cold front late Wednesday moved across Long Island, pushing the major rainfall and heaviest wind gusts with it, according to meteorologist Brian Ciemnecki with the National Weather Service's Upton office.
The storm dumped more than 2 inches of rain on the East End and about 1.2 inches in western Nassau, according to the latest updated weather service rainfall totals about 8:30 p.m. The Island remained under a high wind warning through 10 p.m. Wednesday, which the weather service said could break tree branches, down power lines and blow holiday decorations.
About 6 p.m. Wednesday, PSEG Long Island reported 782 of its more than 1.1 million customers were affected by 34 power outages across Nassau and Suffolk counties, the largest of which was affecting 181 customers in Carle Place. That outage were expected to be restored later Wednesday evening, according to the utility’s interactive Long Island Outage Map.
The rain and unsettled weather across the East Coast caused problems at airports as well.
According to FlightAware, there were 385 delays at Kennedy Airport and 55 cancellations as of about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The flight tracking site also reported 454 delays and 23 cancellations at LaGuardia.
Three flights were canceled and one was delayed at Long Island MacArthur Airport, according to a spokesperson for the Town of Islip, which owns and operates that airport.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, citing high winds on the upper East River, banned empty tractor trailers and tandem trailers from the Bronx-Whitestone, Throgs Neck and RFK bridges in both directions until 6 p.m. An MTA spokesperson confirmed Wednesday evening that the ban was lifted at the scheduled time.
After the cold front moves east across the Island and the storm dissipates, "it’s going to remain gusty," Ciemnecki said, adding that Thursday’s winds will not be as severe. The weather service does not have a high wind warning for Thursday.
The forecast Friday and Saturday calls for more sun and highs in the 30s, dipping into the low 20s by the evening with clouds returning.
Long Islanders may have swapped out their winter coats for rain jackets Wednesday, but they should be prepared to change back tomorrow based on Ciemnecki’s forecast.
"Tomorrow’s going to be dry but windy," the meteorologist said. "The combination of the 40 degree temperatures and the gusty winds will make it feel like the lower 30s. It might be a rough day being outside."
With Nicholas Grasso, John Asbury and Brianne Ledda
Long Islanders will wake up to mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 40s Thursday after enduring 24 hours of at times heavy rain and powerful gusts.
A cold front late Wednesday moved across Long Island, pushing the major rainfall and heaviest wind gusts with it, according to meteorologist Brian Ciemnecki with the National Weather Service's Upton office.
The storm dumped more than 2 inches of rain on the East End and about 1.2 inches in western Nassau, according to the latest updated weather service rainfall totals about 8:30 p.m. The Island remained under a high wind warning through 10 p.m. Wednesday, which the weather service said could break tree branches, down power lines and blow holiday decorations.
About 6 p.m. Wednesday, PSEG Long Island reported 782 of its more than 1.1 million customers were affected by 34 power outages across Nassau and Suffolk counties, the largest of which was affecting 181 customers in Carle Place. That outage were expected to be restored later Wednesday evening, according to the utility’s interactive Long Island Outage Map.
The rain and unsettled weather across the East Coast caused problems at airports as well.
According to FlightAware, there were 385 delays at Kennedy Airport and 55 cancellations as of about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The flight tracking site also reported 454 delays and 23 cancellations at LaGuardia.
Three flights were canceled and one was delayed at Long Island MacArthur Airport, according to a spokesperson for the Town of Islip, which owns and operates that airport.
Cars make they’re way along Dune Road in Quogue as heavy rains caused flooding on Wednesday. Credit: John Roca
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, citing high winds on the upper East River, banned empty tractor trailers and tandem trailers from the Bronx-Whitestone, Throgs Neck and RFK bridges in both directions until 6 p.m. An MTA spokesperson confirmed Wednesday evening that the ban was lifted at the scheduled time.
After the cold front moves east across the Island and the storm dissipates, "it’s going to remain gusty," Ciemnecki said, adding that Thursday’s winds will not be as severe. The weather service does not have a high wind warning for Thursday.
The forecast Friday and Saturday calls for more sun and highs in the 30s, dipping into the low 20s by the evening with clouds returning.
Long Islanders may have swapped out their winter coats for rain jackets Wednesday, but they should be prepared to change back tomorrow based on Ciemnecki’s forecast.
"Tomorrow’s going to be dry but windy," the meteorologist said. "The combination of the 40 degree temperatures and the gusty winds will make it feel like the lower 30s. It might be a rough day being outside."
With Nicholas Grasso, John Asbury and Brianne Ledda
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