Long Island weather: Temps drop, arctic air arrives overnight

In the wake of Tuesday’s mild temperatures and scattered showers, along comes a cold front that introduces a blast of frigid air, forecasters say.

Temperatures were expected to plummet Tuesday night and then struggle to get above freezing on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said in a tweet. Gusty winds, too, will make that feel even colder, with highest winds expected over the Twin Forks, as of the late Tuesday afternoon forecast.

Indeed, Rich Hoffman, a News 12 Long Island meteorologist, says we’re looking at “mid-January type cold,” along with “a few chances for some minor snow.”

Early risers on Wednesday could be greeted by temperatures in the mid-20s right around daybreak, as well as possible snow showers, though the chances were slight.

That’s as winds were to start picking up, gusting as high as around 40 mph, making Wednesday’s highs of 34 degrees or so feel much colder.

Two words to describe this — “cold and blustery,” said Faye Morrone, weather service meteorologist based in Upton.

With continuing gusty conditions, temperatures overnight head down to the low 20s for around daybreak Thursday, which was expected to bring some snow showers in the morning, and highs heading up to the mid-30s.