Long Island weather: Showers, flash floods still possible Wednesday

Portions of Long Island can expect scattered instances of flash flooding Wednesday as a flood watch remains in effect until 2 p.m.

The National Weather Service said by 11:30 a.m., the heaviest part of the system had passed through Long Island following significant rainfall overnight and earlier Wednesday.

"I think that flood threat's pretty minimal at this point," weather service meteorologist Brian Ciemnecki said. "Can't rule out an isolated rumble of thunder. . . but we're mainly looking at just a now mostly cloudy day with some ... Isolated to scattered showers."

Around noon, conditions were mostly dry as the sun peeked through pockets of cloudy skies, although black clouds still threatened in some areas.

Selden received the highest amount of rainfall on Wednesday with a recorded 2.82 inches. Long Island MacArthur Airport received 2.04 inches of rainfall.

The storm helps to relieve Long Island’s moderate drought status and rain deficit of 4.29 for the year as of Tuesday.

"This should help quite a bit bringing those numbers up," Ciemnecki said.

A high rip current risk also remains in effect for ocean beaches until 9 p.m.

Both Nassau and Suffolk county health officials announced advisories against bathing and beach closing at numerous locations on Wednesday due to the significant rainfall.

The Nassau County Department of Health issued an advisory against bathing at 18 beaches: 16 North Shore and two South Shore beaches, Island Park Beach in Island Park and Philip Healy Beach in Massapequa. It also closed beaches due to elevated bacterial levels. They were Hewlett Point Beach in East Rockaway and Biltmore Beach Club in Massapequa.

The advisories will be lifted at 8 a.m. on Thursday.

Suffolk County Department of Health issued an advisory against bathing at 64 beaches, including beaches within and adjacent to various North Shore embayments and along the northern shoreline of the Great South Bay, Sag Harbor, and Long Island Sound beaches that are directly impacted by nearby storm water discharges.

Suffolk advisories will be lifted at 9 a.m. on Thursday.

To check for the most recent water quality status a specific coastal beaches in New York State, use this guide.

Thursday will see scattered showers throughout the day due to a low-lying system, Ciemnecki said. The system will fully pass by Friday, allowing for sunny conditions for the end of July with highs in the lower 80s.