Long Island weekend weather forecast: Snow followed by rain

Long Islanders can expect up to 3 inches of snow Saturday, before warmer temperatures and rain wash it away on Sunday, the National Weather Service said.

The winter storm is expected to bring snow Saturday afternoon to Long Island and New York City. The snow is expected to turn to rain as temperatures rise overnight Saturday into Sunday, according to the weather service. 

Matt Wunsch, a meteorologist with the weather service, said the Presidents Day weekend will begin with wintry conditions. Long Island will see highs in the lower to mid-30s, with wind chills in the mid-20s, according to the forecast.

Through Saturday evening, warm air is expected to move from the south, mixing the snow with rain, Wunsch said.

"The evening commute may be messy," he said.

This means that areas closer to the North Shore could see higher snowfalls of up to 3 inches, while the South Shore can expect rain earlier than other areas, Wunsch said.

"As warm air moves in from the south, the North Shore is much more likely to have a longer duration of snow," Wunsch said.

Heavy rain is expected Sunday as temperatures climb to highs in the upper 40s to lower 50s. The forecast calls for up to 1 to 2 inches of rain to fall intermittently throughout the day.

With the rainfall and warmer temperatures, most of Saturday’s snow will likely melt away, Wunsch said.

Heavier snow is forecast for the rest of the state, prompting Gov. Kathy Hochul to declare a snow emergency and prepare state agencies. Hochul said 5,500 utility workers were ready to respond, as well as MTA and transportation workers. The state was also making emergency salt deliveries to upstate communities.

Winds on Sunday night could reach more than 20 mph on Long Island with gusts of 50 mph possible throughout the state, officials said. 

Wunsch said that despite recent snow and rain in late fall and early winter, Long Island has not fully recovered from last year's drought.

Sunday's significant rainfall will help, especially since the melted snow will only total one-tenth to three-tenths of and inch.

"We've been below average basically since the fall, and we haven't quite yet gotten out of that," he said.

Monday will see mostly dry but windy conditions, with wind chill values in the upper teens to 20s.

The weather service is also tracking a storm which could potentially bring "significant snowfall" Wednesday night into Thursday night.