What should you know about Long Island's weather?
- NWS office
- New York (OKX)
- Climate
- Hot-summer humid continental
- Time zone
- EST/EDT
- Elevation
- 81 ft
- Coordinates
- 40.79° N, 73.14° W
- Nearest radar
- KOKX · Brookhaven NEXRAD · 15 mi
- County
- Suffolk County, NY
- Yearly rain
- 46 in
- Warmest month
- July · 75°F average
- Coldest month
- January · 31.9°F average
- Severe storm peak
- Jun to Aug
How much rain does Long Island get each month?
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 39.2 | 41.0 | 47.7 | 58.3 | 68.3 | 77.2 | 82.8 | 81.4 | 74.8 | 64.1 | 53.6 | 44.4 |
| Low °F | 24.6 | 25.5 | 32.0 | 41.2 | 50.8 | 60.9 | 67.3 | 66.0 | 58.9 | 47.3 | 37.6 | 29.8 |
| Rain (in) | 3.66 | 3.29 | 4.51 | 4.06 | 3.28 | 4.00 | 3.26 | 4.24 | 3.60 | 3.97 | 3.41 | 4.71 |
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39.2 | 24.6 | 3.66 |
| Feb | 41.0 | 25.5 | 3.29 |
| Mar | 47.7 | 32.0 | 4.51 |
| Apr | 58.3 | 41.2 | 4.06 |
| May | 68.3 | 50.8 | 3.28 |
| Jun | 77.2 | 60.9 | 4.00 |
| Jul | 82.8 | 67.3 | 3.26 |
| Aug | 81.4 | 66.0 | 4.24 |
| Sep | 74.8 | 58.9 | 3.60 |
| Oct | 64.1 | 47.3 | 3.97 |
| Nov | 53.6 | 37.6 | 3.41 |
| Dec | 44.4 | 29.8 | 4.71 |
ISLIP LI MACARTHUR AP, NY US · 2 mi away · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020
What does a record downpour look like on the Long Island weather radar?
It looks like heavy cores that keep forming over the same towns for hours, which is what happened at Islip on August 12 to 13, 2014. Islip measured 13.57 inches of rain, an official New York State 24-hour record that broke the 11.6 inches at Tannersville during Irene in 2011. In one stretch, 1.76 inches fell in just 15 minutes from 5:39 am to 5:54 am. NWS New York noted that the storms moved parallel to a warm front, which kept heavy rain over Islip for several hours. If the loop shows cells lining up over your town again and again, stay off flooded roads and out of underpasses.
How did Hurricane Sandy flood Long Island in 2012?
Sandy's storm tide left 3 to 6 feet of water above ground along the coast of Nassau and Suffolk counties in October 2012. In Nassau County, a high-water mark of 4.6 feet above ground was found in Freeport, and Fire Island had a mark of 5.6 feet. Around 100,000 homes on Long Island were severely damaged or destroyed, mostly by surge and waves. On Fire Island the surge destroyed or washed away 200 homes and the ocean breached the island in three places. The worst damage came from surge and waves rather than rain, which is why coastal flood warnings matter as much as the loop.
What did the 1938 hurricane do to Long Island?
It made landfall near Bellport on September 21, 1938, as a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph maximum sustained winds. The storm was moving at a forward speed of 47 mph, and sustained hurricane-force winds were felt across central and eastern Long Island. Around 60 lives were lost on Long Island and hundreds of people were injured. Ten new inlets formed between Fire Island and East Hampton, Shinnecock Inlet the best known among them, and Montauk was an island for a time.
How did the January 2015 blizzard hit eastern Long Island?
It saved its heaviest snow and strongest winds for eastern Long Island and southeastern Connecticut, where blizzard conditions were observed on January 26 to 27, 2015. On the KOKX loop, the largest and heaviest snow band set up over eastern Long Island around 1:00 am on January 27 and continued through 7:00 am. Orient measured 30.0 inches of snow, Southampton 29.0 inches and Islip Airport 24.8 inches. Westhampton Airport gusted to 60 mph and Islip Airport to 50 mph. When a band like that parks over one part of the island, check the loop before you drive.
When should you check the Long Island radar?
Thunderstorm season
June to AugustAbout 78% of Suffolk County's 1996 to 2025 severe reports fall in these months. Beachgoers headed to Jones Beach and drivers on the Long Island Expressway check the loop on hot afternoons.
Hurricane season
June 1 to November 30Tropical systems moving up the coast usually show up first as outer rain bands on the loop. Boaters on Great South Bay check it along with NWS New York tropical updates before leaving the dock.
Nor'easter season
September to AprilNor'easters nearly always bring heavy rain or snow along with gale-force winds, and now and then coastal flooding. Before driving Ocean Parkway or Sunrise Highway during one, check the loop for heavy bands.
What else do people ask about the Long Island radar?
Which NWS office and radar cover Long Island?
NWS New York (OKX) issues forecasts and warnings for Long Island. The nearest NEXRAD radar is KOKX, about 15 miles from central Long Island.
How often does the radar on this page update?
The radar loop on this page updates every 5 minutes.
Is this page an official warning service?
No. It shows radar and forecasts only. For warnings, follow NWS New York and local emergency alerts.
Quick facts
- Radar: KOKX (Brookhaven NEXRAD), a new frame every 5 minutes
- Forecasts and warnings: NWS New York (OKX)
- Severe storms peak from June to August (NOAA Storm Events, 1996 to 2025)
- Local time: EST/EDT
- Radar: KOKX, a new frame every 5 minutes
- Warnings: NWS New York (OKX)
- Severe storms: June to August
- Local time: EST/EDT
Where does this data come from?
- NOAA NEXRAD radar via Iowa Environmental Mesonet
- National Weather Service, New York office
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020: ISLIP LI MACARTHUR AP, NY US
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996 to 2025
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service
- GOES-East satellite imagery
- Open-Meteo forecast API
- OpenStreetMap contributors
- NWS New York: Historic Long Island flash flooding, August 12 to 13, 2014
- National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Report, Hurricane Sandy
- NWS New York: The Great New England Hurricane of 1938
- NWS New York: The Blizzard of January 26 to 27, 2015
- National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone climatology
- National Weather Service: Nor'easters