Long Island weather forecast: Heavy rain, high winds

Isn't it March that's supposed to come in like a lion?

Forecasters at the National Weather Service are calling for a first week of April filled with rain, sometimes with near-torrential downpours, and roaring winds to match.

Rain is forecast Tuesday through early Thursday morning as a low pressure system moves through the area.  The weather service said 2 to 3 inches of rain are expected between late Monday and Thursday.

A gale watch has been issued for Wednesday for Long Island Sound and the South Shore waters. Wind gusts of around 35 to 40 mph — highest along the coast — are predicted for Wednesday with gusts reaching near 50 mph possible.

Coastal flooding is possible starting late Tuesday night, but it will be more likely during the high tide cycles of Wednesday and Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, according to the weather service.

The forecasters added: “The flooding looks to be mostly minor, but some moderate coastal flooding will be possible for parts of western Long Island Sound shoreline as well as parts of the South Shore bays of Long Island.” 

Tuesday, the chance of precipitation is 90% but rain is expected mostly after 11 a.m. The high temperature should be about 49 degrees as an east wind blows at 8 to 14 mph.

More rain is expected Tuesday night as the temperature slips to about 41 degrees.

Wednesday the chance of precipitation is 100% with thunderstorms possible after 6 p.m. The rain is expected to continue into Thursday morning before mostly stopping by 8 a.m., according to the weather service.

Thursday should be mostly cloudy and Friday a bit better at partly sunny.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”