The first weekend in October starts out with a rainy...

The first weekend in October starts out with a rainy Saturday on Long Island, with precipitation of half-an-inch or so from around daybreak to early evening, forecasters said.

The first weekend in October starts out with a rainy Saturday on Long Island, with precipitation of half-an-inch or so from around daybreak to early evening, forecasters said.

No such luck for scattered showers, as this is more of "a widespread event" with "a concentrated band of rain," though not expected to be heavy, said Tim Morrin, National Weather Service meteorologist based in Upton.

High temperatures are forecast for the mid 60s, he said.

Sunday is the preferable day for pumpkin picking, as well as those Oktoberfest activities, with bright, sunny skies; a noticeable breeze from the west and temperatures in the lower 60s -- about 5 degrees below normal, he said. Look for Sunday to "feel like an early fall day," he said.

As for foliage this weekend, the color change on Long Island was expected still to be in the early stages -- at no more that 10 percent, according to the weekly fall foliage report at ILoveNY.com.

A trip to the emergency room in a Long Island hospital now averages nearly 4 hours, data shows. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Newsday Staff

'I'm going to try to avoid it' A trip to the emergency room in a Long Island hospital now averages nearly 4 hours, data shows. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

A trip to the emergency room in a Long Island hospital now averages nearly 4 hours, data shows. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Newsday Staff

'I'm going to try to avoid it' A trip to the emergency room in a Long Island hospital now averages nearly 4 hours, data shows. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

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