A powerful storm that has wreaked havoc on much of the country and has disrupted plans for thousands of holiday travelers could drop up to 4 inches of rain on Long Island and produce howling winds capable of downing tree limbs and power lines, meteorologists said.
The National Weather Service in Upton issued a wind advisory Tuesday until midnight Wednesday. Meteorologists expect sustained wind of up to 25 to 35 mph and gusts that can reach 50 mph.
Rain is expected to develop late Tuesday afternoon and could intensify by the evening.
Temperatures are expected to be in the 40s Tuesday evening and will rise to the 50s during overnight hours, said Ross Dickman, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Forecasters expect wind to pick up over that time, predicting sustained winds of more than 30 mph. Wind gusts could approach 40 mph by Wednesday morning.
Heavy rain could continue through the morning Wednesday before tapering off by the afternoon.
Additional precipitation could fall Wednesday evening with rain mixing with light snow, Dickman said.
The NWS is calling for 2 to 4 inches of rain through Wednesday.
Minor coastal flooding is also possible.
The storm has already been a massive headache for Thanksgiving travelers across the country. Thousand of flights have either been delayed or canceled and travelers could expect even more delays as the storm moves east.
AAA estimates that 43 million Americans will travel this Thanksgiving.
Forecasters are calling for mostly sunny skies on Thanksgiving with a high near 36 and sustained winds of 17 to 22 mph.
