STORM WATCH: Scattered showers and storms are about to move through Long Island
The chance for thunderstorms with gusty winds and quick downpours will be from around 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with scattered plain rain continuing overnight. Rain ends before 8 a.m. Saturday with drier, but colder weather for the weekend.
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NEW: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NASSAU COUNTY FOR THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH WIND GUSTS OVER 40-60 MPH BETWEEN AROUND 7 P.M. AND 8 P.M. STAY WITH NEWS 12 LONG ISLAND FOR UPDATES.
STORM WATCH: STRONG STORM CHANCE THIS EVENING, RAINY OVERNIGHT
After a wet start to the day this morning, clouds broke for some sun this afternoon with highs around 70 degrees, but travel can be slowed at times tonight, especially early this evening as a line of slowly weakening thunderstorms approaches Long Island from the west.
Most of Long Island will avoid strong storms, but even the regular rain showers will be gusty. Use caution traveling this evening. After 7 p.m., scattered showers and thunderstorms will be moving west to east across Long Island, and some storms could become strong. The main threats will be heavy downpours, strong winds and gusts around 40 to 60 mph with any stronger thunderstorms.
Keep an eye on the weather if you're heading to a high school football game or have other outdoor plans Friday evening. After around 9 p.m., while a rumble of thunder cannot be ruled out, we are mostly just dealing with periods of plain moderate rain overnight. Lingering scattered showers and periods of rain will linger into early Saturday morning, ending by 9 a.m.
Here is a look at the hourly projected weather conditions for Long Island below.
Then, have the winter coat and clothes ready for the weekend! Much colder air will move in behind the front, sending temperatures into the 40s by daybreak. Clouds and a few early morning showers Saturday morning will give way to slowly developing afternoon sunshine. Temperatures rise from the 40s to near 54 degrees by the late afternoon.
Saturday night will be cold as skies clear and temperatures take another tumble. Overnight lows will drop into the 30s across much of Long Island, setting the stage for a cold Sunday morning. Some of our colder inland locations, especially around the Pine Barrens and eastern Suffolk County, could see patchy frost. The frost potential will depend on how quickly the winds diminish overnight, allowing temperatures near the ground to fall. If you still have sensitive plants outdoors, you may want to take precautions and protect them from the colder temperatures.
The good news is that Sunday is shaping up to be a beautiful fall day, but it will still be on the chilly side. We'll enjoy plenty of sunshine throughout the day, with afternoon temperatures reaching the mid-50s. That's below average for the middle of October, but at least we'll have dry conditions for pumpkin picking, fall festivals or enjoying the changing leaves.
The big weather stories this weekend will be Friday night's potentially strong thunderstorms, Saturday's gusty winds and nearly a 20-degree temperature drop, followed by the possibility of patchy frost Sunday morning. After a stormy start to the weekend, we'll finish with plenty of sunshine and some crisp fall weather.
Most of next week looks dry with high temperatures back in the 60s. But there will be a storm offshore that could bring Long Island extra clouds and breezy conditions in the Monday through Tuesday timeframe next week.
