Long Island weather: Potential high winds, showers, flooding as nor'easter nears

Mostly sunny skies and breezy conditions Thursday across Long Island will give way to thickening clouds by the evening and likely showers, along with the potential for flooding and gusts offshore hitting 60 mph by the weekend.

Forecasters said the predicted stormy weather is a result of a nor’easter that continued to form offshore Wednesday.

"Widespread moderate coastal flooding possible for southern Nassau during times of high tide Friday evening and Saturday morning," the National Weather Service said in an update late Wednesday afternoon.

"Widespread minor to locally moderate coastal flooding elsewhere," the update continued, "during high tides on Friday into Saturday."

Wind gusts will increase as the weekend gets closer, with a predicted 39 mph for Montauk on Thursday and 47 mph Friday. Offshore wind gusts will reach as high as 60 mph Friday.

Newsday meteorologist Geoff Bansen said while it is still too early to confirm an official weather model, the nor'easter looks like it will remain offshore with its center coming about as close as Block Island. 

A storm watch is in effect over ocean waters Thursday night and Friday, as waves are expected to reach as high as between 7 and 10 feet, the weather service said.

Small craft advisories are in effect on the non-ocean waters through Thursday. The risk strong and dangerous rip currents off Long Island ocean-facing beaches remains in effect through Friday evening.

The highs through Sunday will top out in the mid-to-high 60s with evening lows dipping into the mid-50s.

The next chance for sunny skies comes Monday when the high hits about 68 degrees.