Long Island weather: morning fog; rain, wind on the way Sunday afternoon into Monday

Dense fog settled over Long Island early Sunday morning as temperatures climbed to near 50 and visibility dropped in some places to a quarter mile or less.

The NWS issued a statement advising “motorists should use low beam headlights and remain alert for rapidly changing visibilities.”

The mist is expected to lift by 10 a.m., according to John Murray, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton.

By late afternoon, showers are expected to arrive, continuing into the night. There’s a 30-40% chance of showers “across much of the Island by 5 p.m.,” Murray said, and the western parts of Long Island could have scattered thunderstorms. The total rainfall is expected to be 1-2 inches, with eastern Suffolk receiving closer to the 2-inch range, “especially across the Twin Forks.”

The high Sunday will be “well into the 50s” and up to 60 degrees farther east.

“We’ve got a southerly flow,” Murray said, “bringing a warmer-than-normal air mass” and temperatures “well above normal for this time of year.”

Winds will grow “gusty” over the course of the day, Murray said, reaching speeds of 35-40 m.p.h. in the late afternoon but decreasing by Monday morning. Overnight the low will be about 48.

Monday will be mild and wet as well, with rain likely until about 8 p.m., especially in Suffolk County, and a chance of showers through the early hours on Tuesday. Monday’s high will be about 55, dropping to 37 at night.

The sun reappears Tuesday. The forecast of mostly clear skies all day and night, with a high again in the upper 50s. Wednesday will bring more of the same — sun and highs in the 50s.

Clouds roll in again Wednesday and Thursday will be mostly gray, with a 30% change of showers after 2 p.m. and a 50% chance of rain overnight.