Severe Winds, Thunderstorms, Possible Tornadoes Headed To Western Suffolk

Mother Nature is expected to send heavy winds and thunderstorms to western Suffolk County on Tuesday -- with tornadoes possible.

According to Tim Morrin, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Upton, a wind advisory will go into effect Tuesday at noon and last until 6 a.m. Wednesday morning. Residents can expect winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts of 50 or even 60 miles an hour possible.

"Possible impacts of that could include downed tree limbs and power lines," Morrin said. "This is one of a few hazards we're tracking."

Although areas of western Suffolk County are expected to see nothing more than a few showers throughout the morning and early afternoon, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to arrive in western Suffolk County in mid-to-late afternoon, and continue overnight.

Wind is expected to increase incrementally all day, racheting up throughout the afternoon, Morrin said. The chance of rain changes to the "likely" status at approximately 2 to 3 p.m., and from "likely" to "categorical," meaning an 100 percent chance of rain, at 4 p.m.

Locations including New York City, New Jersey and Nassau County, will see the weather "go downhill" earlier in the day, Morrin said, with stormy conditions edging closer to western Suffolk County throughout the afternoon.

"Any of the thunderstorms have the potential to become severe, with winds of up to 60 miles per hour and higher," Morrin said. "There is even some evidence that the storms could become tornadic."

The suggestion of tornadoes, Morrin said, was put forth this morning by the storm prediction center. Tornadoes, he added, are not "out of the realm of possibility."

Rainfall as high as one to two inches could fall, depending on where the heaviest of the showers falls, posing problems in some areas involving drainage and flooding.

"We're facing a multitude of hazards with this system," Morrin said.

Rain is expected to taper off after midnight, with the storms "said and done by dawn," Morrin said, with possible sunshine by Wednesday afternoon, and temperatures a bit below normal after a cold front moves in.