Calm, Cool Christmas Holiday Weekend: Long Island Forecast

LONG ISLAND, NY — There is no snow in the forecast. This must be distinctly understood, to quote Charles Dickens.

As of Wednesday, just 14.3 percent of the contiguous U.S. was covered with snow, with the country on pace for a record low come Dec. 25, said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist. "This year could go down as one of or perhaps the least white Christmases on record."

In fact, after Friday, it'll feel balmy on Long Island, with daytime temperatures in the upper 40s and light and variable winds.

A large storm over the middle of the United States spanning the weekend will lead to adverse travel conditions as Christmas travel ramps up, Sosnowski said. Also, upstate New York is likely to see rain or perhaps a wet snow and rain mix, he said, but "No major travel problems are expected from it, except perhaps over portions of central and northern New York, where a small slushy accumulation cannot be ruled out."

(SEE: Best/Worst Times To Get To/From Long Island For The Holidays).

The first chance for precipitation on Long Island is Tuesday, and the prediction is for rain.

Here's the forecast through the holiday weekend based on southwest Suffolk County:

• Thursday Afternoon - Sunny. Highs around 40. North winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
• Tonight - Clear. Lows in the mid 20s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.
• Friday - Sunny. Highs in the upper 30s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Friday Night - Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.
• Saturday - Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 40s. South winds around 5 mph.
• Saturday Night - Cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.
• Sunday - Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 40s.
• Sunday Night - Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s.
• Christmas Day - Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s.
• Monday Night - Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.
• Tuesday - Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs around 50. Chance of rain 40 percent.