Long Island forecast: Weather whiplash ahead as snow, cooler temps return

Long Islanders who enjoyed warm temperatures earlier this week may be feeling a case of weather whiplash Thursday, as rain a few snowflakes and cooler temperatures make a return.

After above-average temperatures on Tuesday, Wednesday followed suit with highs in the mid-to-upper 60s with mostly dry conditions. Temperatures peaked earlier in the day as offshore winds cooled Long Island during the afternoon.

"This unseasonably mild stretch comes to an end today," National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Goodman said.

Temperatures will return to typical March numbers the rest of the week, with highs on Thursday in the upper 40s to low 50s, added NWS meteorologist James Tomasini.

Thursday will be rainy through the afternoon, while snowflakes could start falling in the early evening hours, Tomasini said. But it's not likely to stick. "We're not expecting any accumulation as the ground temperatures are going to be too warm," he said.

But Thursday night's temperatures will nonetheless drop below freezing, with the mercury dipping to the lower 30s and even the upper 20s.

The weekend will see an extended stretch of typical late winter temperatures, with highs in the mid-to-upper 40s and lows in the 30s. Saturday night may also see lows hitting below freezing temperatures in the upper 20s and lower 30s.

Although Friday's forecast notes a slight chance of rain, Saturday and Sunday will remain mostly dry for Saint Patrick’s Day weekend events.

A system on Sunday night will bring precipitation Sunday night into Monday.

While Monday will see highs in the 50s, the luck of the Irish may run out on Tuesday — Saint Patrick’s Day — as temps drop to the upper 30s to lower 40s.

Newsday's Robert Brodsky contributed to this story.