Long Island weather: Dreary, rainy Memorial Day weekend ahead

When it comes to dreary weather this Memorial Day weekend, forecasters at the National Weather Service predict we're in for a lot of it.

A lot of gray skies, a lot of rain — a lot of chilly, damp, miserable weather. And a lot of Long Islanders tossing a light jacket, and maybe a pair of sensible shoes, into the beach bag with the towels, sunblock and extra flip-flops.

"Right now, it looks like rain Saturday, with Saturday evening a washout, Sunday morning a washout, Sunday afternoon chancy, more rain Monday," weather service meteorologist Bill Goodman said Thursday. 

The high temperature Friday should top out at 61 with a mix of clouds and sun, dropping Saturday to 56, before rising to 60 again Sunday, according to the weather service. On Monday, Memorial Day, a high of 66 is forecast. The overnight lows from Friday to Monday will range from the low to mid-50s.

 "The timing of it is just uncanny," said Goodman of the soggy chill-snap. "We had this nice summerlike weather earlier this week — and we'll go back to nice summerlike weather after this weekend.

"But, this holiday weekend?" he said. "The timing couldn't be any worse."

The "summerlike" conditions Goodman described meant sunny skies and highs hitting above 90 on the Island by about 2 p.m. Wednesday. By midnight Thursday, after several hours of lightning and thunderstorms, the temperature had dropped below 70. By about 2 p.m. Thursday, it had plunged to 59 degrees, according to the weather service's three-day summary. 

The weather service is calling for a 60% chance of rain Saturday, a 90% chance of rain Saturday night into Sunday, an 80% chance of rain Sunday, a 30% chance of rain Sunday night into Monday and a 50% chance of rain on Memorial Day.
Cool temperatures will be the norm until at least Tuesday, the next time Long Island has no chance of rain in the forecast and highs above 70.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.