Long Island mostly dodged minor snowfall that was supposed to fall overnight, but strong winds expected Wednesday have the potential to cause power outages and contribute to brush fires, forecasters said.
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as the tri-state area through 6 p.m., when winds of up to 50 mph are predicted to die down.
“The combination of northwesterly winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph…relative humidity levels dropping between 20 and 30 percent and dry fine fuels will result in conditions favorable for the spread of brush fires,” Upton-based NWS meteorologists said in a statement.
The agency warned smokers to properly dispose of cigarette butts and drivers to not park on grassy areas to help prevent brush fires. It also warned that the winds could make driving difficult and cause tree limbs to fall on utility lines, sparking power outages.
Temperatures are expected to warm up from the high 30s Wednesday to the low 40s Thursday and then the 50s over the weekend, although the forecast calls for potential showers Friday and Saturday.
