Long Island forecast: Sun, warm weather into Thursday but wildfire smoke stays aloft

Long Islanders can expect a midweek warmup before a likely rainy Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. But the Canadian wildfire smoke that prompted air quality alerts across the country this week, including the New York City area, will largely spare Long Island.

Temperatures are expected to reach the high 70s and even the low or mid-80s in some areas across Long Island on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday according to the NWS. Both high and low temperatures for this week are expected to hover around five to seven degrees "above normal for this time of the year on Long Island," said meteorologist Joe Pollina with the weather service's Upton office.

But the smoke from wildfires in Canada should not concern Long Islanders, according to Pollina. The fires have forced tens of thousands of Canadians to evacuate their homes and diminished air quality for the American Midwest, The Associated Press reported.

"The smoke is going to be aloft," the meteorologist said. "We're not going to see much of an impact except for ... cloudy skies. Maybe there will be different colors to the sky, especially around sunset, with more vibrant colors, more orange, more red."

Around a 30% chance of precipitation will linger Friday, Pollina said. On Saturday, high temperatures will drop to the low 70s and the chance for rain will increase.

"It's not an all day event," Pollina added of Saturday rain, "but there's a 60% chance all day on Saturday."

The weather service's Sunday forecast calls for dry conditions, partly sunny skies and temperatures rising to the mid-70s.