Long Island weather: Single digit wind chills Monday night into Tuesday

Valentine Day's gift to Long Island was a chilly one — temperatures in the teens Monday night, plus cold breezes and wind chills in the single digits, forecasters said.

Following Sunday's snowfall, which left more than five inches on the ground in some places, Monday's high, even with sunny skies, was a mere 26 degrees.

Monday night, it will be a brutal 12 degrees, with wind chills as low as 5 degrees, the National Weather Service said.

Later in the week, the weather service warned in an advisory Monday night, dramatically warmer weather will arrive for a day, along with possibly "strong, damaging winds."

These potentially include sustained winds of 25 mph to 35 mph with gusts of between 40 mph and 65, with peak winds taking place from 10 p.m. Thursday to 4 a.m. Friday and higher winds expected in Suffolk and out east.

Before that, Long Islanders will see temperatures rise slightly to 32 degrees Tuesday, with abundant sunshine. But with northwest winds continuing to blow the wind chill could go as low as zero.

Then, Wednesday, the sun will come out again and the mercury should soar to a more moderate 45 degrees, the weather service said.

The high Thursday could go to the mid 50s but there is a price to pay in the transition to warmer weather with the strong winds coming with that frontal system, as well as rain.

Rain is likely from Thursday through Friday morning before the sun returns Friday afternoon and Saturday along with more seasonable highs in the low 40s.

Meanwhile, a small craft advisory is in effect until 10 p.m. Monday for surrounding waters off Long Island, including the Sound, and ocean waters until 6 a.m. Tuesday, the weather service said.

With John Valenti