Long Island weather: Friday temps to stay below normal

For the weekend Long Island is looking at moderating temperatures — starting with one sunny day and then a rainy morning for the next, forecasters say. There are also a couple of chances for wintry precipitation.

Friday is set to see temperatures rise to the mid-30s, still 10 degrees below normal, as clouds increase through the day.

 Just before noon, Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma was reporting 35 degrees, feeling like 28 with wind chill. Normal temperatures for the day are 45 for a high and 29, the low. 

A weak low pressure will be passing “well to our south tonight, and this will bring a low chance of light snow or flurries to parts of Long Island, New York City and northeast New Jersey this evening,” the National Weather Service said in its regional summary.

The Island has a 20 percent chance for such flurry activity, starting Friday evening, the weather service said.

Look for flurries or a passing snow shower, with sleet also possible, said Rich Hoffman, News 12 Long Island meteorologist.

Saturday, then, is expected to be partly sunny, with highs in the low to mid 40s — great St. Patrick’s Day parade weather, he said.

Precipitation is expected to be developing in the wee hours of Sunday morning, he said, possibly starting with a shot of a wintry mix, but quickly changing over to rain.

As of Friday morning, Long Island was expected to see all rain from this event, with temperatures mostly in the mid-30s, said Faye Morrone, weather service meteorologist in Upton. Still, that’s right on the edge of freezing, so a slight shift could mean a very brief shot of a wintry mix.

Look for periods of rain Sunday morning, with “a spotty shower or two” in the afternoon, Hoffman said. 

As for temperatures? The upper 40s, forecasters say.

In addition, on the daylight front, those who prefer an extra hour later in the day, as opposed to early morning, will be glad to “spring forward,” moving clocks ahead an hour as of 2 a.m. Sunday.

Hoffman also points out that this is a good time for a ritual check of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.