LI Weekend Weather: Heavy Rain, High Winds, Rip Current Risk Friday

LONG ISLAND, NY — As the remnants of Debby track north Friday, a wind advisory is in effect for Long Island, with gusts of up to 50 miles per hour possible, as well as heavy rain throughout Friday night, the National Weather Service said.

Tropical Depression Debby will bring a period of heavy rain, isolated strong to severe thunderstorms, strong winds, and high surf and dangerous rip currents to the area through Friday night, the NWS said.

About a half to 1-inch of rain is forecast, with locally higher amounts across Long Island, the NWS said.

South winds of 20 to 30 miles per hours, with gusts of 35 to 45 miles per hour are likely Friday afternoon into Friday night; gusts of up to 50 mph are possible for LI Friday afternoon and evening, the NWS said.

Residents can expect scattered downed trees and tree limbs, with power outages possible, the NWS said.

In addition, a high, dangerous rip current risk remains in effect through Saturday night; there's also a high surf advisory in effect through noon on Saturday, with waves of up to 10 feet possible, the NWS said.

Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions. If you enter the surf zone, always have a flotation device with you and swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float, and do not swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and yell or wave for help, the NWS said.

Debby's impacts are less than initially expected on Long Island.

According to Ross Dickman, meteorolgist with the National Weather Service Office in Upton: "It looks like things have shifted a bit to the west, and that's good news for us locally."

Long Island, which was hit with heavy precipitation this week, can still expect to see showers and thunderstorms continue into the early part of the weekend. After that, the system will pass to the north and the area will "clear out" for the weekend, he said.

"As the system starts to exit, we can expect showers and thunderstorm activity to traverse to the east, to New York City and Long Island, Friday night," Dickman said.

The precipitation should dissipate by Saturday morning; conditions are expected to improve thought Saturday, with Sunday "a good day," Dickman said.

On Friday, temperatures are expected to reach a high of 82 degrees, with a low of 73 degrees Friday night. Temps for the weekend are expected to hover in the 80s, Dickman said.

The wind advisory will remain in effect until Saturday morning, the NWS said.