Long Island temps in mid 20s with single-digit wind chills to give way to warming into 40s next week
Rosi Reyes, of Islip, who says she loves the go to the beach when it’s cold, sits at Islip Beach on Saturday. Credit: Gary Licker
An arctic blast is bringing frigid temperatures for the rest of the weekend, ahead of gradual warming Monday, forecasters said.
Whatever snow Long Islanders got Friday was slow to melt Saturday, and that looks to be the case Sunday, too: The high was forecast to reach just 29 under sunny skies, with the low predicted to be 15 under clear skies Sunday night.
Though the metro area wasn't under a winter weather advisory after Friday's snow, hypothermia remains a risk if you're not properly dressed or prepared.
Saturday's gusty conditions were expected to continue into Sunday, with wind chill values between 5 and 15 degrees, said Matt Wunsch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton.
Beware of black ice: Cold-weather driving tips
Watch out for black ice. Long Island is seeing “perfect conditions” for it, said Robert Sinclair Jr., a spokesman with AAA Northeast. If the pavement looks wet but the car ahead of you isn’t kicking up water, it’s a coating of ice.
- Drive slow and keep a longer distance between your car and the car in front of you.
- If skidding on a turn, gently step off the gas and look and steer in the direction you want to go. Avoid slamming on the brakes on ice.
- Check the pressure on tires before driving because for every 10-degree temperature drop, tires lose one pound per square inch of pressure. That's on top of the one psi per month tires naturally leak.
Source: AAA Northeast
Black ice, a clear glaze that forms when snow melts and refreezes on the street, also remains a concern and can make for slick roads and dangerous driving conditions.
“We are seeing perfect conditions for black ice,” said Robert Sinclair Jr., a spokesman with AAA Northeast, adding it can take a vehicle nine times longer to stop on ice and snow compared to braking on clear pavement.
The high-pressure cold system will start to depart by Monday, resulting in a warmer week with above-average temperatures.
Monday will be sunny with a high of 37 and a low of 29. Tuesday will reach a high near 43, with an increasing chance of rain toward evening.
Rain is likely Wednesday with temperatures expected to reach a high of 45 and a low of 35. More of the same was forecast Thursday: Rain likely, and continued mild conditions with a high near 47.
That might feel like spring, compared to this weekend.
Saturday’s highs were in the mid-20s, with wind chill values between 15 and 20 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Islip recorded 18 degrees on Friday night, the coldest temperatures since early February last year, Wunsch said.
Lorena Mongelli has been reporting for Newsday since 2021. Prior to that, she covered breaking news at the New York Post.
'Very strong winds on the Island' A dangerous winter storm is on its way to Long Island. Newsday meteorologist Bill Korbel reports.
'Very strong winds on the Island' A dangerous winter storm is on its way to Long Island. Newsday meteorologist Bill Korbel reports.
