Chance of rain, storms overnight, Friday afternoon as Long Island's drought eases

The unsettled weather that brought storms and heavy rainfall to Long island Thursday should ease as the evening wears on, with a small chance of more rain overnight and Friday afternoon.

The flood watch that began at noon Thursday in Nassau County remains in effect through 11 p.m., the weather service said.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the heavy summer rains Long Island has experienced have helped to ease Long Island's drought.

In recent months, Long Island had been listed in moderate drought status on the federal monitor system, with some Suffolk parts listed under severe drought status, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Last week, that was true for about two-thirds of Suffolk and one-third of Nassau. Now, most of those same those areas, which encompass the South Shore and the East End, are listed as just “abnormally dry,” no longer in a drought. A small portion of the South Fork remains under the moderate drought classification.

Dry conditions impacted local water supplies, resulting in the Suffolk County Water Authority calling on residents last month to temporarily stop watering their lawns. But the late spring and early summer dryness was overcome by July and August rains.

Throughout all of July and as of Wednesday, the weather service measured more than double the normal amount of rainfall in Islip. This was a common trend throughout much of the Northeastern region, according to the NOAA.

Between July 26 and Monday, “a broad corridor stretching through eastern and southeastern New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, western Massachusetts, and small sections of Vermont and New Hampshire were exceptionally wet, with some areas receiving over 150% to more than 200% of normal precipitation,” the administration said in a Thursday news release.

July and August excessive rainfall totals were in contrast to the deficits measured in May and June. The weather service measured 2.68 of rain in Islip in May, about 0.6 inches below normal values. In June, only 0.82 inches fell. The normal is 4 inches.

“We’ve had significant rain for the last several months that has helped to put a dent in the drought,” weather service meteorologist David Stark told Newsday.

 The weather service also warned that "life-threatening rip currents are likely for all people entering the surf zone" across the entire South Shore.

Friday will bring a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the early afternoon. It will otherwise be partly sunny, with a high in the low 80s. the weather service said. Showers and thunderstorms are also possible in the evening before sunset, when temps will drop to the mid-60s.

Both Saturday and Sunday should be mostly sunny with highs in the low 80s, the weather service said. 

Check back for updates on this developing story.