Long Island weather forecast: Summerlike warmth to give way to fall feel

Wednesday may be the last summerlike day Long Islanders see for some time. 

Forecasters with the National Weather Service say Long Island will see a high of 72 with south winds between 8 and 14 mph. Unlike this week's record-setting days, Wednesday's highs will fall short of the record for Oct. 23, set at Islip in 1978.

But the winds are changing. Overnight temperatures will be in the 50s and by Thursday morning, a 13-15 mph northwest wind will shuttle in partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-60s, forecasters said.

"We have a cold frontal system coming into the overnight," said Matt Wunsch, a meteorologist with the weather service in Upton. "A northwest wind will bring in the cooler air that will gradually relax, and temperatures will gradually moderate into the weekend."

Daytime temperatures will stay in the mid-60s for the rest of the week. Partly sunny skies are forecast into the weekend. Sunday may turn colder, with highs in the upper 50s, forecasters said. No significant rain is predicted in the seven-day outlook.

Long Island set a new temperature record Tuesday for the date, topping off at 81 degrees at Islip. The previous record was 77, set in 1979.

Monday's high of 77 broke the mark of 76 degrees, recorded for that date in 2017.

The region's unusually dry conditions have prompted New York State to issue an alert for a high risk of wildfires starting and spreading rapidly.