Increasing clouds today, showers on the way this afternoon for Long Island

Grab the umbrella if you have plans later this afternoon. Clouds are increasing and showers are expected later today.

Alex Calamia

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Aug 16, 2026, 7:31 AM

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Updated

What to know

Quiet start, wet finish: Sunday begins dry with increasing clouds, but showers are expected this evening.
Messy Monday commute: Periods of rain and a few thunderstorms are likely late tonight into early Monday morning, with some downpours locally heavy. Minor urban and poor-drainage flooding is possible, along with a localized flash flood risk.
Boat and beach conditions deteriorate: Increasing south winds and building seas today, with a moderate rip current risk that could climb to high in some areas later today and on Monday.
Dry stretch returns: High pressure builds back in behind the front, bringing dry and seasonably warm weather Tuesday and Wednesday.

THIS MORNING

It's a great start to the day on the island with a mix of clouds and sun, but a south wind will pick up by noon and clouds will increase by lunch-time.

REST OF TODAY

Clouds continue to build through the afternoon as a warm front approaches from the southwest. Most of the day should stay dry, though isolated showers can't be ruled out north and west of the city this afternoon.

Temperatures will reach the low-80s. As evening arrives, a batch of showers moving in from the west will spread into the region. Rain should be on the light-to-moderate side for most locations, with the heaviest of it favoring areas west of the city. Farther east, rain will likely hold off until after sunset.

MONDAY

A more widespread and potentially stronger round of showers and a few thunderstorms is expected Monday. It's humid so downpours could be locally heavy. Rainfall will generally be under 1", but locally higher amounts are expected in thunderstorms. The overall flood threat remains limited, but minor urban and poor-drainage flooding is possible for the Monday morning commute.

Conditions should gradually improve through the morning as the system moves offshore. A secondary batch of showers, and possibly an isolated thunderstorm, is possible again later in the day as a trailing cold front crosses the area with a high near the mid-80s.

BOAT AND BEACH

Conditions deteriorate later on today with a breezy south wind. Boaters should exert caution.

The rip current risk is moderate today for New York City, Nassau and western Suffolk ocean beaches, and low farther east in Suffolk. That risk trends higher into Monday, with NYC and Nassau beaches remaining at moderate risk and Suffolk ocean beaches climbing to a high risk as leftover swell lingers. Anyone heading to the beach should check the latest rip current statements before getting in the water.

REST OF THE WEEK

High pressure builds back into the region for the middle of the week, setting up a dry and seasonably warm stretch. Tuesday looks mostly sunny with a high near the mid-80s, and Wednesday should be sunny and a touch warmer, near the upper-80s.

The next chance for unsettled weather arrives Wednesday night into Thursday as another system approaches, though forecasters expect much of its energy to track well to the north and west, limiting the shower and thunderstorm potential locally. Thursday still carries a chance of showers with a high in the low-80s. Behind that, confidence drops for the end of the week and into next weekend. There's a chance a stalled front could bring a few more waves of unsettled weather, but for now Friday looks mainly sunny with a high near the low-80s.