Long Island may have a wet Thanksgiving, but rain, not snow is more likely to dampen the mood of holiday revelers.
The National Weather Service in Upton issued an updated forecast that calls for mostly rain on Wednesday and a slight chance of precipitation on Thanksgiving.
Forecasters said snow may mix with rain on Wednesday, though no accumulation is expected. Meteorologists expect the rain to stop before sunrise on Thursday. Forecasters said they had received reports of sleet falling in some areas Wednesday morning.
National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Pollina said there’s a 15-20 percent chance of precipitation on Thanksgiving, whether it comes in the form of rain, light snow, or both.
The forecast has changed significantly since Tuesday, when forecasters were predicting that the Island would get slammed with up to 5 inches of snow
The low pressure system that meteorologists have been monitoring is now likely to be closer to the coast, Pollina said, bringing in warmer air.
As for the rest of Wednesday, usually the heaviest travel day before Thanksgiving, forecasters said a mix of rain and snow could fall until 1 p.m., and then change over exclusively to rain for the remainder of the afternoon and throughout the rest of the evening.
The temperature should fall to 34 degrees by 5 p.m., but strong winds could make it feel more like 25 degrees, meteorologists said.
The forecast for Thanksgiving calls for a high near 39 degrees, with wind chill readings between 25 and 35 degrees.
Giddy shoppers gearing up to wait on long lines for Black Friday sales may want to bundle up. Forecasters expect the mercury to fall below freezing to 28 degrees Thursday night.
