Storm brings Long Island potentially damaging winds, heavy rain Wednesday

Long Islanders are likely to face heavy rain and damaging winds Wednesday that are capable of blowing down tree limbs and dislodging holiday decorations, the National Weather Service said.

Nassau and Suffolk counties are under a high wind warning starting at noon Wednesday and continuing through 10 p.m., said Dave Radell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton.

Forecasters are projecting sustained southerly winds of 20 to 35 mph, with gusts of up to 60 mph for most of Long Island, with the heaviest period coming during the midafternoon, Radell said. Earlier, the weather service had predicted the higher winds only for eastern Long Island.

"And those gusts are obviously what's going to give us some impact with blowing down some tree limbs," he said. "And folks that have holiday decorations out are in danger for losing some of that stuff from the high winds."

In addition, Long Island is expected to have heavy rainfall overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning, Radell said, with 2 to 2.5 inches expected Wednesday — with heavier amounts further east in Suffolk's Twin Forks. Further west in Nassau and New York City, the forecast calls for about 2 inches of rain, he said.

The heavy winds and rain are expected to calm Wednesday evening as temperatures dip into the upper 40s, forecasters said.

Meanwhile, the weather service has issued a gale warning for all Long Island waters from 6 a.m. Wednesday through 6 a.m. Thursday.

Coastal flood and beach erosion are potential impacts of the storm, the weather service said, noting it is possible the system could track farther west — putting western Suffolk and Nassau at greater risk of higher winds and potentially much more rainfall and wind damage.

The storm should clear out by Thursday, the weather service said. It will be sunny but winds of 17-21 — and gusts as high as 36 mph — could still be possible.

Expect dropping temperatures with a high of 39 degrees likely Thursday.