Long Island weather: Scattered showers and mild temps this week, coastal storm arrives Sunday

Scattered showers and rising temperatures Wednesday were helping to melt the hard-packed snow still hanging around from last month's storm, as the mist that blanketed Long Island overnight cleared.

The mercury was going up to a 40-degree high in most places, as rain was due to overspread the area Wednesday afternoon into the evening, the National Weather Service said. 

The fog could return overnight into Thursday, accompanied by lows around 33. Rain is also possible Thursday, which is expected to be cloudy with a high near 43, and showers are forecast from Thursday night through Saturday, with similar highs expected those days.

Forecasters are also watching a coastal storm that could start affecting the area this weekend.

Periodic rain Saturday into Saturday night may change to snow, with a good chance for snow Sunday and Monday, the weather service said.

"Uncertainty remains with the potential impacts from a coastal low Sunday night into Monday," the weather service said in its forecast discussion Wednesday afternoon. While weather models agree the low pressure will be coming up the East coast "location, track and timing differences remain."