Long Island missing tropical storm's worst, but still getting rain

Tropical Depression Debby is forecast to continue on a western track Friday, sparing Long Island from the heavy rain that battered the southeast as the system churned north.

Nevertheless, the start of the weekend on Long Island will be best spent either inside or underneath an umbrella. The National Weather Service said the region can expect remnants of Debby by Friday afternoon in the form of high winds, showers and thunderstorms.

An inch, or “perhaps a little bit more” of rain will fall Friday, which will be coupled with winds of up to 60 mph, according to Matt Wunsch, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Upton office.

A wind advisory for Nassau and Suffolk counties remains in effect through 6 a.m. Saturday, which will start out rainy, with sun beginning to peak through the clouds by mid-morning. Dry conditions are forecast from midday Saturday through at least Thursday. The high Friday should top out at 81 degrees with an overnight low of 72. The weather service said Saturday's high will hit 83 before dipping to 66 overnight.

“The remnants of Debby will be tracking well to the west,” Wunsch told Newsday late Thursday. “So the heaviest rain is actually going to take place over portions of Pennsylvania, upstate New York and perhaps parts of western New Jersey.”

What a difference a few days and an atmospheric shift can make.

On Tuesday, Debby's initial path north, coupled with a separate weather system, spurred warnings from forecasters of potential for flash floods, and the mobilization of crews and equipment to deal with any damage or power outages. The rumbling thunderstorms that hit the region Tuesday afternoon led to delays and grounded flights at the area's major airports as well as downed trees and minor flooding.

Since then, updated storm tracks have shown the storm's path moving northwest and away from Long Island.

A spokesperson for the Port Authority, which manages both Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, confirmed that inclement weather resulted in additional delays and cancellations at both airports Thursday but the number of affected flights was not immediately available. Passengers are encouraged to check for updates with their airline prior to heading to either airport Friday.

In a news release, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said crews will be ready to respond to any weather-related issues. 

In an email, a spokesperson for the Town of Islip said passengers flying out of Long Island MacArthur Airport should also “check with their air carriers for any potential delays or cancellations as a result of the weather before heading to the airport.”

Despite Debby's shifting west, Long Island municipalities were still preparing for the unexpected.

A spokesperson for the City of Long Beach said town crews cleared storm drains earlier in the week. Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said Thursday his town has similarly prepared. Crews were fueling chainsaws and wood chippers in case of downed trees.

“Additionally we follow and track the high tides, especially focusing on the low lying areas so we’re at the ready to make sure that we can alleviate any flooding conditions that may occur,” Saladino said.

Following the heavy rainfall earlier this week, he said the town received “very few calls” regarding flooding in a few isolated areas.

The Town of Riverhead issued a wind advisory beginning at noon Friday and continuing through 6 a.m. Saturday. The notice warns that “gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.”