'Spotty downpours' in Long Island's Tuesday forecast, meteorologists say

Evening commuters can expect weather conditions to remain unsettled, with the possibility of showers and thunderstorms, some of which can bring heavy rain, forecasters say.

As opposed to a major, widespread system, look for fast-moving "spotty downpours," said Kevin Kacan, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton.

As of midafternoon Tuesday, the farther west you were on the Island, the better chance you had of seeing rain, he said, with a special weather statement in effect for Nassau, expecting the possibility of rain at the rate of an inch an hour in some spots. LaGuardia Airport recorded .95 of an inch for the day, with Long Island MacArthur Airport seeing .22, the weather service said.

Minor coastal flooding is expected during Tuesday evening's high tide in the most vulnerable areas of Nassau's North and South shores, the weather service said.

Motorists should be prepared for ponding, slick roads and reduced visibility, the statement said.

Still, don't think you're in the clear if you're in Suffolk, as "anyone has the chance of seeing downpours," Kacan said, with rain in the forecast through Wednesday, as well.

Arrival delays at Kennedy Airport on Tuesday afternoon were averaging around three hours -- and around two hours at LaGuardia -- with some departures also affected, the Federal Aviation Administration said on its website. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines.

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Before sunrise Thursday, Long Island is expected to get about an inch of rain, he said.

The threat of heavy rain on Wednesday comes about as a "cold front bumps into [a] warm and humid air mass," said Rich Hoffman, News 12 Long Island meteorologist.