Hazardous weather on Long Island with thunderstorms, heavy rain as air quality remains unhealthy

Heavy rains and thunderstorms rolled in Saturday afternoon as air quality remained low on Long Island.

Thunderstorms brought between a half and three-quarters of an inch of rain across much of Nassau and Suffolk counties in the early afternoon, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Kaitlyn Lardeo. More thunderstorms are expected after 6:30 p.m., she said.

Though rain can help alleviate particulate pollution, the weather service has issued an air quality alert through midnight Saturday.

"Air quality should be improving overnight tonight," Lardeo said.

There will be "multiple rounds of thunderstorms" Saturday, including in the late afternoon and evening, National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Goodman said.

There could be "quick downpours" of an inch or two, damaging winds and even the slight possibility of a tornado, Goodman said. It's not likely, he said, but "it's not zero." 

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook announcement for southern Nassau and Suffolk counties, warning of periods of heavy rain and high winds. "Torrential" rain moved east across the Island earlier Saturday afternoon, with frequent lightning strikes and strong winds that could cause falling branches, the weather service said.

Nassau County closed all county-run beaches and outdoor swimming pools Saturday because of poor air quality, threatening storms and the risk of flash floods. The indoor pool at Eisenhower Park remained open, county officials said. The weather service warned of dangerous rip currents on the entire South Shore through Saturday.

Air quality was rated unhealthy by the Department of Environmental Conservation across most of Long Island, and moderate on the East End. 

Visibility was low Saturday, but the heavy rains were expected to "scour things out" by the end of the day, Goodman said. 

Drivers should avoid traveling during these heavy storms, the state Department of Homeland Security advised. Those who are on the road during the heavy rains are advised to slow down, keep both hands on the wheel and never drive through flooded roads.

Some outdoor concerts and other events scheduled for Saturday were canceled because of the storms.

The "Simply Stapleton" concert scheduled for Saturday night at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater in Eisenhower Park was postponed; the new date is Aug. 4 at 7 p.m.

An Independence Day celebration in Huntington, featuring a reenactment of the first time the Declaration of Independence was read on Long Island, was rescheduled for Sunday. 

A series of wildfires in Ontario and Quebec has blanketed regions throughout the Midwest and Northeast with smoke.

For at least part of Saturday, air quality will remain unhealthy for all groups, the DEC said. Residents, particularly young children, seniors and those with health conditions, should limit time outside and report any serious irritation, shortness of breath or chest pain to a doctor, said Suffolk County Department of Health Services Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott.

"We expect rain to bring some much-needed relief to New Yorkers experiencing poor air quality over the weekend, but with it we may see the possibility of severe storms," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement Friday evening.

On Sunday, the weather will improve markedly, with near-pristine conditions and highs in the low 80s expected. Skies will start partly to mostly cloudy but gradually become sunny due to northwest winds — all possibly in time for the 3 p.m. start of the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Sunny weather with highs in the mid-80s should continue into Monday and Tuesday, the forecast said.

How is the air quality today?

When will the air quality get better on Long Island?

A frontal system coming in this weekend could improve the air quality, said meteorologist Jay Engel.

"We’re looking for some improvement on the air quality on Sunday," Engel said.

What are the health effects of the smoke?

People with breathing problems need to be especially cautious, as well as people who work outdoors. But studies have found that wildfire smoke can also effect cognition. Here's what to know and how to stay safe.

Newsday's Peter Gill and John Asbury contributed to this story.