Severe Weather Forecast Thursday On LI With Damaging Winds, Thunderstorms, Possible Isolated Tornado: NWS

LONG ISLAND, NY — Despite Thursday morning's sunny skies, Long Island could be hit with severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, large hail — and maybe even a twister — by afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

According to Dominic Ramunni, meteorologist with the NWS office in Upton, the hazardous weather outlook includes an isolated tornado risk, which exists more toward the western parts of Suffolk, Nassau County, and closer to New York City.

Thunderstorms, expected to begin on Long Island as early as 2 to 3 p.m., are expected to bring damaging wind gusts, possible hail, and heavy downpours that could leave to nuisance flooding in poor drainage areas, Ramunni said.

According to AccuWeather in a release Thursday, "major travel disruptions" are expected in the Northeast from severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts" of up to 60 to 70 miles per hour — extending from North Carolina through New England through Thursday night.

Storms could begin closer to early evening on the eastern parts of Long Island and the Twin Forks, Ramunni told Patch.

The storms, "quick movers," could dump about an inch to an inch-and-a-half of rain on Long Island; the overall risk for flash flooding is relatively low, Ramunni said.

Risks for tornadoes and heavy gusts are slightly higher from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the New York City, Hudson Valley and lower Putnam County, and southeast New Jersey areas, he said.

Temperatures are expected to reach the 80s across Long Island Thursday and could reach 90 degrees in New York City, he said — the first time the 90-degree mark has been reached this season.

"It will finally feel like summer," Ramunni said.

The "heat will turn up" Sunday through Tuesday across Long Island, with temperatures in the 80s and a head index making it feel closer to the upper 90s or 100 degrees, Ramunni said.