Long Island weather forecast: Rain and winds up to 45 mph expected Thursday into Friday

Keep those umbrellas handy, Long Island, and hang on tight.

As of late Wednesday, the National Weather Service was predicting a 50% chance of rain across the region Thursday, with patchy fog otherwise cloudy skies and powerful winds picking up after dark. By Thursday night, the chance of rain will climb to 100%. The high will top out at 61 degrees with a low at night of 55, according to the weather service.

A coastal flood statement for northern Nassau and northwest Suffolk remains in effect from 11 p.m. Wednesday until 3 a.m. Thursday, the weather service said late Wednesday afternoon, with minor flooding “in the more vulnerable locations near the waterfront and shoreline. Some roads and low lying properties including parking lots, parks, lawns, and homes and businesses with basements near the waterfront will experience minor flooding.”

A flood advisory for the region goes into effect at midnight Thursday and continues through 5 a.m. Friday.

Wind gusts as high as 50 mph are forecast to begin Thursday night and continue into Friday.

“Storm total rainfall amounts are forecast to range between 0.75-1.50 inches, with the highest amounts over southern Connecticut,” the weather service said in an update late Wednesday afternoon. “Locally higher amounts are possible. There is an overall low risk of flash flooding. It is more likely that any flooding would be more of the minor, nuisance and urban poor drainage variety.”

Said Dominic Ramunni, a meteorologist with the service's Upton office, of the predicted Thursday-night-Friday-morning soaker: “Folks are going to be sleeping during the bulk of it. But if you have any plans or plans for the evening, you are definitely going to want to have the umbrella handy.”

Rain will clear Long Island by Friday afternoon, but breezes will linger through Saturday. Weekend temperatures will remain in the 60s and are typical for this time of year, Ramunni said.