Small-craft advisory issued for weekend

The National Weather Service has issued a small-craft advisory Saturday for the Long Island Sound, New York Harbor and the South Shore bays of Long Island because of high winds.

The advisory will be in effect from 1 p.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating the waters during these conditions, officials at the weather service advised.

The strongest winds are expected to occur in the late afternoon and will be from 15 to 25 knots, or 17 to 28 mph, with frequent gusts up to about 40 mph.

"It will be breezy today on land, too," Joe Pollina, meteorologist with the weather service, based in Upton.

A low pressure system developing off the mid-Atlantic coast will pass south and east of Long Island, bringing the wind conditions, Pollina said.

Snow was falling on parts of Long Island before noon Saturday, with little or no accumulation expected, according to the weather service. Some thunder is also possible.

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The rain and snow showers are possible before 1 p.m., with a chance of rain showers until 3 p.m. High temperatures for Saturday are expected to be in the low 40s and hold steady through the afternoon.

Saturday night, temperatures will go below freezing, in the mid 20s to about 30 degrees, Pollina said.

Sunday will be a bit cooler, with highs at or just below 40 degrees. There will be a slight chance of light snow.

"For the most part, it will be dry. There might be a passing snow shower," Pollina said.