Long Island weather forecast: Up to 3 inches of rain, 55 mph gusts possible Sunday

Wind gusts of up to 55 mph and up to 3 inches of rain will hit Long Island late this weekend as part of a strong coastal storm, causing a strong chance of coastal flooding. 

A southern low pressure system will deepen as it tracks the region, bringing its heaviest expected rain of 2 to 3 inches, Sunday night through Monday morning, NOAA announced Friday. 

Matthew Wunch, National Weather Service meteorologist, said that this forecast is "very similar" to the storm earlier this week that brought 5 inches of rain to Long Island.

This weekend's winds are predicted to hit Long Island in a south to southeast direction, pushing the water into the coast.

"It's kind of like everything adding up to be kind of like a worst case scenario," Wunch said.

There is particular concern for Monday's afternoon high tide causing coastal flooding in southern Nassau County and the East End along the Twin Forks. Forecasters said coastal flooding could reach 2 to 3 feet above ground, depending how far west the storm tracks. 

Winds will be also "just as strong" as the previous weekend of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 to 55 mph. But since the last rainfall is so recent, grounds are likely saturated, and trees are "more susceptible to fall."  

The wind may end up "being higher out east" because it is "farther out."

Wunch also emphasized that "we are three days out" from the storm, and so "a lot can change" in weather patterns in that time. 

Power outages and tree fallings are expected, but mainly in isolated and "scattered" incidents. 

While Saturday will be mostly sunny with a high near 49 degrees, temperatures will increase as the storm comes in, with an expected high of 56 degrees on Sunday and 59 degrees on Monday.

Rain will possibly continue through Tuesday, with a 30% chance of precipitation, according to the National Weather Service. 

Islip so far this month has had a little more than 3½ inches, which is about an inch and a half above normal, he said. 

Wunch said the pattern of weather systems is "very active" at the moment, and the service expects to see several more storms "come and go" for the remainder of the month.

While April was the "wettest month of the year, we didn't have much rain going into spring," Wunch said. "And so the rainy fall season we've been experiencing has kind of evened itself out."

With John Asbury