Heavy rain Friday evening is expected to taper off as the remnants of Tropical Storm Andrea passes south of Long Island before skies clear up partway through this weekend, forecasters say.
Up to 2 ½ inches of rain per hour was falling as the Friday evening rush hour commute got underway, prompting a flash flood warning for Nassau and Suffolk counties to be issued by Upton-based National Weather Service meteorologists. The warning expires at 7:15 p.m., but a flood warning continues through 2 p.m. Saturday.
“As Tropical Storm Andrea approaches New York, we expect heavy rainfall and encourage New Yorkers in affected areas to prepare for possible flood conditions,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.
Nineteen beaches in Nassau County and 67 Suffolk County beaches were closed due to storm water runoff contamination.
Officials warned motorists not to drive into large puddles of water because it is impossible to tell how deep the accumulations may get—or if it’s safe to cross.
A coastal flood advisory is also in affect for LI through 11 p.m. Friday as Andrea is churning up the coast, bringing up to 9-foot waves during higher than usual tides ahead of the new moon Saturday.
Saturday is forecast as mostly cloudy in the high 70s during the day—likely clearing up in time for the Belmont Stakes before turning partly cloudy in the 60s after sundown.
The forecast looks better for Sunday, when it is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
