LI Memorial Day 2024: First Look At Holiday Weekend Forecast

LONG ISLAND, NY — Depending on what you’ve got going on for the upcoming three-day Memorial Day Weekend, long regarded as the unofficial start to summer, you may have to plan around weather conditions on Long Island.

Some parts of the country will continue to dodge storms and others will be hot and sweltering, the private weather company AccuWeather said Monday in its Memorial Day weekend forecast.

According to the forecast for Long Island, on the East End and in western Suffolk, residents can expect sunny skies Friday, with a low of about 58 degrees and a high of about 76 degrees; the day is expected to turn cloudy.

On Saturday, low clouds, breaking for some sun, are expected, with the temperatures ranging from a low of 60 degrees to a high of 71. On Sunday, sun and clouds are expected with a possible thunderstorm; temps should range from a low of 56 degrees to a high of 71. On Monday, partly cloudy skies, with some rain possible, are expected, with a high of 66 to 68 degrees and lows in the 50s.

Meanwhile, in Nassau County, partly sunny skies are expected Friday, with highs of 80 degrees leading to cloudy skies Saturday and a possible thunderstorm, and temperatures reaching a high of 70 degrees and a low of 59 degrees. Sunday is expected to be warmer and mostly cloudy, with a thunderstorm possible later in the day. Highs are expected to reach 77 degrees, with lows near 60 degrees. Memorial Day will be partly cloudy with showers possible, and a high of 71 possible, and lows near 60 degrees.

Some 43.8 million Americans are expected to travel to celebrate Memorial Day. Here’s a look at what they can expect, according to AccuWeather:

Sections of the central U.S. pummeled by strong storms and rain probably won’t get much of a break, according to the AccuWeather forecasters. Travel could be affected by the heavy rains associated with these storms, which have a history of producing strong winds, hail and flooding.

“While each day will not be a washout everywhere, and some locations will be fortunate enough to miss thunderstorm activity Saturday through Monday, there will be areas that get doused on more than one occasion across the Plains states,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Renee Duff said in the forecast.

The Upper Mississippi Valley, the Great Lakes could see showers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend, with the storms moving into the Northeast and Southeast by Monday and potentially disrupting memorial services and outdoor cookouts.

Temperatures should be fairly pleasant in mid-Atlantic states, with highs in the 80s, 70s and even 60s at some points during the holiday weekend.

Locations from the Gulf Coast to the Desert Southwest are expected to see temperatures in the 90s or even higher in some parts of Texas.