A wet Easter Sunday expected after a cloudy but dry Saturday, forecasters note

Long Island can expect a wet Easter Sunday as the National Weather Service forecasts up to a half inch of rain and recurring showers throughout the day.

Meteorologist Jay Engel said the weekend will begin with mostly cloudy but dry conditions through most of Saturday, but with chances of showers increasing by Saturday night.

"On Saturday, expect widespread 60s, except for some 50s out on the East End," Engel said, and the low 40s at night with gusty winds.

Those with outdoor Easter plans Sunday, however, may want to consider moving them inside. Rain is expected late Saturday night into Sunday, and showers will continue periodically throughout the day.

"Just have the umbrella handy on Sunday, and if you bring any plants to the mother-in-law and things like that, just know it's going to get a little wet," Engel said.

Precipitation will become more widespread on the Island from midmorning to the first half of Sunday afternoon, with highs in the mid to upper 50s and a low of 41 at night.

Engel said the service predicts between a quarter and a half inch of total rainfall.

"It's not going to be like an extremely heavy rainfall, just kind of like a steady rainfall," Engel said. "By Easter evening, it will start to move away."

David Stark, an NWS meteorologist, said the mid-50s temperatures on Easter Sunday are "right around the average for early April."

The rain is expected to end late Sunday and not make a return for the remainder of next week.

"The only chance of rain we have in the next seven days is tonight and more than likely through the day on Sunday. And then it's pretty much dry after that," Stark said.

Monday will be mostly dry with highs in the lower 50s.

"We're looking at a much drier and cooler start for next week on Monday," Stark said. "It looks like we're going to see mostly sunny conditions. A little breezier —  not too windy, but it will feel cooler."