Flood Watch, Heavy Winds In Store For Long Island This Weekend

LONG ISLAND, NY — Long Islanders are in for a soggy Saturday, with a flood watch in effect across Long Island.

According to Dominic Ramunni, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office in Upton, a flood watch is in effect across Long Island from 8 a.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. on Sunday.

Rain is expected to develop overnight Friday, picking up in intensity Saturday morning, with the heaviest and steadiest rain, about an inch an hour, slated to fall from Saturday at lunchtime through early evening, Ramunni said.

Along with issues such as urban flooding, Ramunni said that the potential for localized area of flash flooding cannot be ruled out.

The rain is expected to taper off Saturday night, Ramunni said, adding that the "kicker" will be seen in the form of heavy winds that move in, as the rain clears out. Long Islanders will see wind gusts of up to 30 to 40 miles per hour Sunday, he said.

Temperatures will stay above freezing Friday night and reach the lower 50s Saturday afternoon, but Sunday night will see those temps dropping back into the 30s, Ramunni said. On Sunday, temperatures are expected to reach the upper 40s, before plunging back to close to freezing Sunday night, he said. Wind chills Monday morning will make it feels as though it's in the low 20s, Ramunni said — a brisk start to the work week after Mother Nature gave a "tease of spring," earlier this month, he said.