Heavy Winds, Rain Expected To Continue Across LI Through Weekend

LONG ISLAND, NY — The impacts of Tropical Storm Ophelia were felt across Long Island Saturday — with more to come through early Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

John Cristantello, meteorologist with the National Weather Service's office in Upton, said as of Saturday around 5 p.m., Long Islanders had seen totals of about a quarter of an inch to a half inch of rain — with soggy skies expected through Monday afternoon. Between Saturday and Monday, about another inch to 2.5 inches of rain are possible, he said.

In addition, high winds of between 30 and 40 miles per hour are expected late Saturday afternoon and evening; on Sunday, winds of about 30 miles per hour are expected during the day.

With Tropic Storm Ophelia making landfall in North Carolina early Saturday, on Long Island, the rain was associated with a warm front; the winds were associated with the fact that "we're in between systems," Cristantello said, with the tropical storm to the south and a high pressure system to the north.

"We're squeezed in between, and that helps to enhance the winds off the ocean — it's more about a pressure gradiant creating stronger winds over the local area," he said.

Coastal flooding as of Saturday across Long Island has been minor, with additional, minor coastal flooding expected into Saturday evening and Sunday, especially on the south shore. Periods of heavy rain can still be expected Sunday afternoon and evening, he said.

No flash flooding is expected, Cristantello added.