Long Island weather forecast: Coastal flooding from storm Friday into Saturday
Flooding at the intersection of South Ocean Avenue and Harrison Street in Patchogue on Wednesday morning. Credit: Tom Lambui
Long Island's beaches and waterfront communities will be taking a 1-2 punch this week when another storm sweeps in, Friday night into Saturday, forecasters say, bringing widespread coastal flooding.
The National Weather Service expects 12- to 16-foot breaking waves along the oceanfront, resulting in “widespread erosion,” “scattered overwashes” and “isolated breaches.” The peak storm surge will be Saturday morning, the weather service said, and coastal communities could see inundation up to 3 feet.
Like Tuesday's overnight storm, the system will bring warm temperatures, heavy rain — between one and two inches — and strong southeast winds of 45 to 50 mph, the weather service said.
“This storm will be eerily similar, maybe not quite as strong, but close enough that we will see some of the same impact, especially on the South Shore ocean bays,” said Newsday meteorologist Bill Korbel.
“I am especially worried about coastal flooding because the beaches have already been battered and this will just cause more erosion,” Korbel added. “The only difference is you might get more flooding on the North Shore.”
Tuesday's storm was the latest in a string of severe storms, that downed trees and utility wires, trapped vehicles on flooded streets and left thousands of Long Islanders temporarily without power Wednesday. Many South Shore communities bore the brunt of that storm, which dumped up to 3 inches of rain and sent winds gusting up to 65 mph along the coast.
Friday will start with sunshine, with the rain and wind not arriving until overnight. It should move out by Saturday afternoon, but lower gusty winds will remain throughout the day, the weather service said.
The next storm could bring snow Monday, Korbel said.
“You may need a shovel for that one, but models are varying,” Korbel said. “But it will be quick-moving and not much of a problem.”
With Maureen Mullarkey
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