Long Island weather forecast: Rain through Thursday, Friday clearing, then more rain

Rain is forecast to continue through Thursday night on Long Island with more to come along with the potential for localized flooding before a brief break Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

After highs of about 50 Tuesday, the low overnight into Wednesday will dip to 43. Wednesday starts with a 30% chance of rain, increasing to 90% at night with a low of 48, the weather service said.

Thursday looks like another washout with rain in the forecast through the afternoon and possibly continuing through the night with a low of 37.

After a brief break of sunshine on Friday, with a high of 50 and an overnight low of 37, a 90% chance of rain returns for the weekend.

For Long Islanders, the threat of flash flooding is low and localized, but the threat of river, stream and creek flooding is moderate between Wednesday and Thursday — with more than 2 inches of rain expected in Islip and 3 inches or more of rain possible for the East End.

In a statement Tuesday, the weather service said “increasing clarity” is expected over the next 24 hours on rainfall rates and location, but said that “uncertainty” remains on the magnitude and duration of heavy rain. Of concern, the weather service said, is that soil moisture content is already between 40 and 80% above normal across areas of Long Island, which means that having successive rain and heavy rainstorms make the chance of flooding more likely.

“The potential exists for mainly localized impacts from flash flooding,” the weather service said in an update at 4 a.m. Tuesday.

It added that minor coastal flooding is possible Thursday.

Also in the mix is the likelihood of strong, gusting winds on Tuesday that, combined with saturated soil conditions, could lead to the toppling and uprooting of vulnerable trees. Tuesday's winds could top 22 mph.