Flash Flood Watch in Effect, Rip Currents at Beaches, Fireworks Postponed

(Update: The flash flood watch has been canceled as of 6:49 p.m.)


All of Long Island is under a flash flood watch until 10 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service. 

A cold front interacting with Hurricane Arthur, which will remain far offshore from Long Island, is to blame for the Fourth of July washout. 

Showers and a possible thunderstorm are in the forecast throughout the rest of Friday, with skies gradually becoming mostly clear later tonight, the NWS said. The gloomy Independence Day weather has forced the postponement of numerous fireworks shows on Long Island. Find the updated schedule here. 

A high surf advisory in effect for all south-facing shorelines has been extended until 4 p.m. Saturday. The NWS says waves could reach heights of up to 10 feet and rip currents will be "dangerous and frequent" throughout the advisory period.

If you find yourself caught in a rip current, the United States Lifesaving Association says to follow a number of steps to escape:

• Yell for help immediately.
• Don’t swim against the rip current – it will just tire you out.
• Escape the rip current by swimming parallel to the beach until you are free.
• If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water.
• When out of the current, swim toward the shore at an angle away from the rip current.

The forecast for Saturday and Sunday calls for sunny skies with highs near 80.