Long Island forecast: Chance of scattered snow showers this weekend

It was 26 degrees at 9 a.m. Friday, headed into the low 40s, and the National Weather Service said we could hit 49 degrees Saturday.

But don't celebrate yet, Long Island: The service said there's a 40% chance of scattered snow showers in store Sunday, with overnight temperatures Sunday into Monday dropping into the teens and expected lows around 17 degrees.

No significant accumulations are expected. But the weather service said there's at least a 30% chance of more snow and rain on Tuesday, as well.

A small craft advisory remains in effect for waters east of Montauk until 1 a.m. Saturday.

And though the weather service has no other advisories, warnings or watches in effect for Long Island, the Friday area forecast discussion noted: "A cold front moves through the area during Saturday night, but with little moisture to accompany it. Deeper moisture follows on Sunday along with PVA." That's positive vorticity advection, an atmospheric process that generates clouds and precipitation. That is what may bring scattered snow showers across the area.

The discussion said that while the thermal profile supports snow, any accumulation would be an inch or less.

While following systems could contain threats of snow, the weather service described those threats as minimal, noting that while forecast models see possible rain — and the possibility of a wintry mix of rain and snow  — the chance for snow accumulation next week appears minimal.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.