Sun breaks out, but a cloudy week ahead

Enjoy those sunny skies while they last -- after Monday, cloudy weather and even a thunderstorm is in order for the region.

The clouds of the past week are finally burning off Sunday, and increasing sunshine through the afternoon will push temperatures into the low to mid-60s, said David Stark, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Temperatures Sunday night will hover in the upper 40s to near 50 degrees, Stark said.

Monday morning will start off with a few clouds, but will quickly become a sunny day, with highs near 70 degrees, Stark said.

But the clouds may return later Monday, and a slow-moving low-pressure system may mean clouds, rain and even a thunderstorm for the rest of the week, Stark said.

While the forecast is still uncertain, expect rain sometime on Tuesday, with increasing clouds and temperatures in the low to mid-60s. An overnight thunderstorm looks possible heading into Wednesday, with forecasts for that day in the low to mid-60s, Stark said.

The low-pressure system is expected to linger in the region, causing cloudy conditions all the way through to Friday, he said.

Low temperatures for the rest of the week were forecast to be in the lower 50s.

The recent precipitation so far this year has helped Long Island's drought conditions. Stark said the U.S. Drought Monitor has upgraded the region's drought status from "severe" to "moderate."