Flash Flood Watch Issued For Long Island

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for Long Island. It will be in effect from midnight Friday until 8 a.m. Sunday.

Showers and thunderstorms will develop over the area starting tonight, the NWS says. Rain will become locally heavy at times late tonight, with the potential for locally heavy rainfall continuing into early Sunday morning.

A total of 1 to 3 inches of rainfall, with locally higher amounts possible, is expected. Rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches an hour are possible at times. As a result, areas of urban and poor drainage flooding are likely, with flash flooding possible.

Flash flooding can be expected in locations that experience successive thunderstorms moving through. With large portions of the Tri-State have received 2 to 5 inches of rainfall over the past two weeks, almost the entire area is vulnerable to flash flooding.

The full forecast:

Friday Night- A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 72. West wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

Saturday- Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Saturday Night- Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Sunday- Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 80. East wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday Night- A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 7 mph.

Monday- A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83.

NWS image