Hurricane Cristobal is churning up the Atlantic Ocean, but the storm won’t ruin Labor Day weekend on Long Island, when beachgoers will spend their last few days at the shore before summer’s unofficial end.
The storm, recently upgraded to a Category 1 storm, will be traveling too far off the coast to impact the Island in any significant way, but the hurricane is contributing to dangerous rip currents on the South Shore. A high surf advisory is in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday for southern Nassau County and southeastern Suffolk County, according to the National Weather Service.
“Longer period swells coming out from the center of Cristobal that are contributing to the building waves,” NWS meteorologist John Murray said.
People swarming local beaches from New York City to Montauk on Wednesday and Thursday are being warned that waves could build to as high as eight feet from now until Thursday. Forecasters expect the waves to subside late Thursday.
The weather service is telling swimmers caught in a rip current not to fight it and to swim parallel to the beach to escape. They also advise people to yell and wave for help if they get caught and cannot swim.
Aside from dangerous rip currents, minor beach erosion can also be expected.
Long Islanders should expect more pleasant weather Friday and the weekend.
Forecasters are calling for sunny skies and a high of 78 Friday, another sun-splashed day Saturday with temperatures pushing 80, and temperatures topping 85 Sunday.
It’s early, but forecasters are predicting a 30-percent chance of showers on Labor Day with a high near 84. Thunderstorms are also possible.
