Weather puts damper on start of holiday weekend
LONG ISLAND
Forecasters called for the possibility of a few hours of rain and temperatures hard-pressed to get out of the 50's in some areas, about 10 or 15 degrees below the seasonal averages.
The outlook for Sunday and Memorial Day is better as high pressure begins to build into the area.
On Long Island, the inclement weather forced the cancellation of the Bethpage Air Show for Saturday, but the show will go on as scheduled Sunday.
In New Jersey, the first summer season after Superstorm Sandy is underway at the Jersey shore, parts of which were devastated by the October storm.
Cold, wet weather is expected to keep at least some potential vacationers away this weekend, but others are returning to their favorite shore spots regardless of the temperature.
Most boardwalks and beaches have been repaired following the storm and are ready for visitors, even as some neighborhoods near the ocean remain seriously damaged.
New Jersey officials have spent the last week touting the shore's recovery.
Surfers took advantage of wind-whipped waves near the Manasquan Inlet Saturday, and fishermen still ventured out onto the rock jetty to cast lines for fluke and bluefish.
But the beaches were deserted; badge-checkers were not even on duty for the unofficial summer kickoff.
Lifeguard stands were turned upside down, and only a handful of hardy souls braved the blowing sand that stung the eyes and scoured the skin along Manasquan's paved beach walk, which was just rebuilt a few weeks ago.
All of New York City's beaches are officially open for the summer season.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg says all 14 miles of the city's beaches in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx are open despite severe damage by Superstorm Sandy.
Due to the heavy rainfull, the Nassau County Health Department closed 19 beaches to swimming Saturday as a precautionary measure.
Storm water runoff can have a negative impact by elevating bacterial levels and affecting bathing water quality.
14 beaches were closed on the North Shore:
Centre Island Sound
Creek Club
Lattingtown Beach
Laurel Hollow Beach
Morgan Sound
North Hempstead Beach Park
Piping Rock Beach Club
Prybil Beach
Ransom Beach
Roosevelt Beach
Sea Cliff Village Beach
Soundside Beach
Stehli Beach
Tappen Beach
5 beaches were closed on the South Shore:
Biltmore Beach Club
Hewlett Point Beach
Island Park Beach
Merrick Estates Civic Association
Philip Healey Beach