Long Island Weather: Major Nor'easter Approaching

UPDATE: Snow Now Expected To Accumulate; 70 MPH Winds Possible

An approaching nor'easter could bring damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph and significant coastal flooding to Long Island, according to the latest storm briefing from the National Weather Service.

High wind and flood watches have now been issued for the entire island with the storm expected to begin impacting the area Thursday night.

The high wind watch will be in effect from 7 a.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday. The strongest winds are likely late Friday afternoon into the overnight hours Friday night.

"Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines," the high wind watch says. "Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles."

A flood watch will be in effect from 6 a.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday. There is the potential for 2-3 inches of rain and heavier bands of rain could produce localized higher amounts.

A coastal flood watch for the entire South Shore as well as northeastern Suffolk County will be in effect from 6 a.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Sunday.

"There is potential for several tidal cycles of widespread flooding of vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline," the coastal flood watch states. "Two to three feet of inundation above ground level in low lying, vulnerable areas is possible. This would result in numerous road closures and cause widespread flooding of low lying property including parking lots, parks, lawns and homes/businesses with basements near the waterfront. Vehicles parked in vulnerable areas near the waterfront would become flooded."

Rain could mix with snow early Saturday as temperatures drop, but no snow accumulation is currently expected.

Read the latest storm briefing in full here.

The full forecast:

Wednesday Night- A slight chance of showers between 9pm and 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday- A 30 percent chance of rain after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night- Rain. Low around 40. Northeast wind 10 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday- Rain. High near 42. Windy, with a north wind 14 to 19 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday Night- Rain before midnight, then a chance of rain and snow. Low around 35. Windy, with a north wind 24 to 32 mph, with gusts as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday- Cloudy, with a high near 45. Windy.