Long Island weather: Rain and thunderstorms, sun returns midweek

Showers early and thunderstorms in the afternoon are in the Monday forecast, with more rain likely Tuesday before a better-than-average chance of clear and dry conditions through the weekend.

The high Monday should top out about 75 degrees with showers and occasional thunderstorms through early Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

A high rip current risk goes into effect for Long Island ocean-facing beaches Monday afternoon and is set to continue "through Monday evening," the weather service said in a notice posted on its website.

"Life threatening rip currents are likely for all people entering the surf zone late in the day," the notice stated. "Anyone at the beaches after about 5 PM should stay out of the surf as lifeguards go off duty. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water."

Showers began Sunday night across parts of Long Island but the forecast called for partly cloudy skies at night.

A "pretty potent system" is developing and heading toward Long Island, Matt Wunsch, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Upton, said Sunday.

There’s still "a little uncertainty" about whether the storm will be prolonged or more scattered, Wunsch said, but either way, the region can expect some "pretty intense rainfall rates," with around 1 to 1.5 inches expected across much of the Island.

The heavier rain brings with it a "chance of flash flooding," Wunsch added, although the weather service is not predicting widespread flooding.

The high Tuesday will hit 81, with more rain likely before skies gradually clear at night with a low of 64.

Wednesday and Thursday should be sunny, with temperatures around 80, dropping to the mid-60s at night, the service said. There's a 40% chance of showers Friday. Otherwise, expect a mix of clouds and sun through the rest of the weekend, with highs in the mid-80s, dipping into the high 60s at night.