Strong winds expected on Long Island Thursday but no snow

Strong winds of more than 50 mph are expected to sweep through the region Thursday, with light snowfall expected in areas further north of the Island, according to a briefing Wednesday night from the National Weather Service.

The winds are expected to pick up early Thursday morning, with temperatures peaking in the low 40s and gusts in most locations between 45 to 50 mph, the weather service said. 

Further east, Montauk could see gusts exceeding 50 mph, officials said.

"Strong winds will blow down limbs and blow around unsecured objects, including holiday decorations," the weather service warned. "A few trees and power lines could be downed and power outages are possible."

Meanwhile, the showers expected to soak most of the Island beginning Wednesday night into Thursday morning with between a quarter and a half inch of rain are expected to turn into snow in parts of the Lower Hudson Valley, New Jersey and southern Connecticut. Long Island is not expected to see any snow, the weather service said.

Meanwhile, a gale warning is in effect for Long Island Sound west of Orient Point and on the South Shore bays from Jones Inlet through Shinnecock Bay through Friday morning. High winds will have the capacity to capsize or damage vessels, according to the weather service.

Thursday will see a high temperature near 45.

The weekend's forecast calls for largely chilly temperatures, from the upper 20s on Friday evening to the high 40s on Sunday with no rain.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.