Long Island weather: Warmer days ahead as temps come back up to normal, hitting 80 by Thursday

The spring’s unseasonable chill will give way to a warmer week, with temperatures reaching 80 in some parts of Long Island by Thursday, the National Weather Service forecast Monday.

This week, for the first time in a while, the highs in the region will be "close to normal," the weather service said. And in the New York City area, by mid- to late week, temperatures will steadily climb to be 7 to 10 degrees higher than is normal.

Monday's high hit the mid-70s. Tuesday and Wednesday, the high is expected to be around 75 degrees while Thursday it will hit 80, then cooling down to a high of 78 Friday.. It should be dry most of the week until Friday night when there is a 50% chance of showers after 8 p.m.

There has been just one day so far this year on Long Island where temperatures have risen into the 80s, with some days in the 70s, said David Stark, a weather service meteorologist.

On March 29, there was a high of 82 degrees, at Long Island’s official climate site, Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma.

Stark said of the highs this week: "This is probably gonna be the warmest we’ve seen this year."

It won’t be 80 degrees across the Island Thursday — on the South Shore and on the East End, it will probably be in the 70s all week. But in the central part of the Island, expect that summerlike warmth, he said.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.