Nor'Easter Timeline For Long Island: What To Expect, And When

LONG ISLAND, NY — The clock is ticking as a powerful nor'easter barrels toward Long Island, bringing damaging winds, heavy rain and coastal flooding to the area Sunday into Monday, the National Weather Service said.

Here's a timeline of what to expect:

Rainfall

According to Matt Wunsch, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office in Upton, Long Islanders should expect worsening conditions through much of the day Sunday. As early as 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., some rain is expected to begin falling; the chance of rainfall increases into the afternoon, with rain off and on through much of the day Sunday and into Monday before tapering off Tuesday morning, Munsch said.

While the rainfall won't necessarily be steady throughout that whole time span, there's a good chance of "waves of rain," he said.

A total of 2 to 3 inches of rain is expected over the two-day period; however, due to the fact that the region has experienced dry conditions, and the rain is expected to be steady in duration over the two days, inland flooding is not expected to be a concern, Wunsch said.

Coastal flooding

Coastal flooding, however, could prove one of the greatest impacts of the storm, Wunsch said. A coastal flood warning is in effect for all of Long Island.

Widespread areas of moderate coastal flooding are expected in southern Nassau and southwestern Suffolk County, Wunsch said.

Major coastal flooding could be seen locally, especially in the back bay areas of Freeport and Lindenurst, he said.

Coastal flooding is expected during the high tide cycles from Sunday morning through Monday afternoon, Wunsch said.

Damaging winds

Winds of up to 40 miles per hour are expected Sunday morning — and are slated to ramp up into the afternoon and evening, when gusts of 50 to 55 miles per hour are expected across Long Island, Wunsch said.

The eastern end of Long Island, including the North and South Forks, are under a high wind warning, with gusts of up to 60 miles per hour possible.

Certain parts of Long Island, including Nassau County and western Suffolk, as well as New York City, could see isolated gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, Wunsch said.