Cooler temps in the 40s with wind gusts forecast for Long Island on Thursday

Slightly colder temperatures and gusting winds are in store for Long Island on Thursday, the National Weather Service said.

Daytime temperatures dropped into the low 40s, more than 10 degrees shy of Wednesday's springlike high of 56 degrees, recorded at Long Island MacArthur Airport, the service's Upton office said.

Shortly before noon it was 41 degrees at the airport.

News 12 Long Island meteorologist Rich Hoffman said a cold front passing Long Island Thursday morning ushered in the lower temperatures.

"This will drop temperatures from 55 to 60 on Wednesday to 40 to 45 degrees today," Hoffman said.

Also, a north wind blowing between 8 mph and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph, should make it feel a little colder, he said.

Thursday night and into Friday morning, temperatures fall to the low 20s, but the north wind subsides, blowing between 3 mph and 8 mph, according to the service.

Friday's daytime highs are around 40, and there's a good chance the cold could linger for most of the weekend, as daytime highs Saturday and Sunday reach the mid 40s.

Two incoming storms put rain in the forecast for early Saturday morning, and Hoffman said there is a small chance the rain could start as a light snow or sleet.