Severe thunderstorm watch in effect Friday evening for Nassau and Suffolk

Nassau and Suffolk counties are under a severe thunderstorm watch through 9 p.m. Friday, the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center announced.

A separate hazardous weather outlook from the NWS office in Upton flagged severe thunderstorm potential for northeast and southeast Suffolk, Peconic and Gardiners Bays, the South Shore Bays from Jones Inlet to Shinnecock Bay, and the Long Island Sound east of Port Jefferson.

The severe thunderstorms set to barrel down on Long Island Friday evening will come about 24 hours after a ferocious storm system finished tearing through central Suffolk Thursday evening.

Just prior to the storm, the NWS issued a wireless emergency alert warning of destructive 80 mph straight-line winds, and reports of downed trees, snapped power lines and dangerous airborne debris poured in from across Long Island’s North and South Shores.

Suffolk Police fielded multiple calls about wires and trees down. Wind gusts of 66 mph were recorded in Shoreham just before 6 p.m., and gusts topping 80 mph were forecast for Brookhaven, Manorville, Shirley, Center Moriches and Mastic Beach in the minutes that followed.

The hazardous weather predicted for Friday comes on the heels of a balmy, sun-filled morning and afternoon on Long Island. The NWS said no hazardous weather meeting warning criteria is expected from Saturday through next Thursday.

Residents should remain weather-aware through the evening hours and monitor NOAA Weather Radio or weather.gov for updates.

An Air Quality Health Advisory for Nassau and Suffolk, issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, is also in play, Friday night until 11 p.m..

Ground-level ozone levels were predicted to exceed an Air Quality Index value of 100. Those with respiratory conditions, heart disease or young children have been advised to consider limiting outdoor activity.

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