Long Island weather: Heavy rain, possible storms predicted for overnight, ending 18-day dry streak

Long Island’s 18-day dry streak is set to end Thursday evening with a possible passing shower and heavier rain overnight.

The forecast calls for possible thunderstorms overnight, with gusty winds up to 24 mph, and into Friday morning, forecasters said.

Newsday meteorologist Geoff Bansen said the heavy showers will begin as early as 5:30 a.m. Friday and hit the East End the hardest, as a front will stall over the area.

Western Long Island is expected to receive 0.5 to 2 inches and the East End can see up to 2 to 4 inches of rain, Bansen said.

Temperatures are expected to reach highs in the mid to upper 60s.

The intense showers could cause runoff along currently dry surfaces, Bansen said.

"Think about sticking a bone-dry sponge under a faucet, right? It doesn't really absorb quickly at all," Bansen said. "But if you took a very lightly dampened sponge and then stuck that under water, it would absorb the water much more quickly."

The rain could linger past midnight Friday, but will end by Saturday morning, Bansen said.

While an 18-day dry streak seems to balance out what felt like a rainy summer, he said the stretch does not break any records.

In 2024, Long Island had a 19-day dry streak in September followed by a 21-day stretch of no rain in October.

"It’s uncommon, but it’s not a rarity," Bansen said.