High Wind Watch Issued For Long Island

The National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for Long Island as a "significant coastal storm" heads up the East Coast.

The wind watch will be in effect from 1 a.m. Monday until 1 a.m. Tuesday. Sustained winds of 30-40 mph will likely gust up to 60 mph, the NWS says.

"Downed trees and power lines are likely, with numerous power outages possible," according to the wind watch. "Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles and on elevated roads and bridges."

The highest wind gusts are expected late Monday morning into the evening.

The strong easterly winds have the potential to cause moderate coastal flooding during Monday evening high tides. The highest threat for coastal impacts will be for flood prone locales along the South Shore bays, the NWS says in a hazardous weather outlook issued for the region.

The storm will also bring 1-3 inches of rain to the island, with the heaviest rain likely Monday afternoon and evening.

High surf will bring the potential for widespread dune erosion and localized washovers for Atlantic Ocean beaches.

The full forecast:

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Southwest wind around 9 mph.

Saturday Night: Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Light and variable wind.

Sunday: A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly after noon. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Light northeast wind becoming east 6 to 11 mph in the morning.

Sunday Night: Rain. Low around 38. Windy, with a northeast wind 16 to 21 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Monday: Rain. High near 43. Very windy, with a northeast wind 34 to 43 mph, with gusts as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Rain. Steady temperature around 43. Very windy. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday: Rain likely, mainly before 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.