A high wind watch is in effect for Suffolk County from 8 p.m. Thursday night into Friday morning. There is also a high risk of rip currents for all of Long Island’s Atlantic facing beaches as a result of Hurricane Igor.
The National Weather Service forecasts that winds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts of 45 to 50 mph will occur in Suffolk beginning Thursday night. Thunderstorms are also expected, and if they occur, wind gusts could rise as high as 60 mph.
Hurricane Igor is not expected to reach near the U.S. coastline, but effects from the category 4 storm will be present, even on Long Island. Meteorologists say that swells will reach the Atlantic facing beaches of Nassau and Suffolk by late Thursday through at least Sunday. These swells will cause extremely life-threatening surf and rip currents.