Honestly, if you've ever spent a winter morning on the boardwalk, you know that the Long Beach NY weather forecast is basically a suggestion, not a rule. Living on a barrier island means the Atlantic Ocean is your best friend and your most unpredictable neighbor. Right now, as we're sitting in mid-January 2026, the air has that specific salt-crusted bite that only "The City by the Sea" can deliver.
Today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, things are looking a bit messy. We’re staring down a high of 41°F and a low of 35°F. But here’s the kicker: it’s not just cold; it’s damp. We have a 72% chance of light snow during the day. If you’re looking out the window right now, it’s probably looking pretty grey.
The Immediate Outlook: Snow, Slush, and the Southwest Wind
The wind is coming in from the southwest at 13 mph. That might not sound like much, but on the beach, it’s enough to make that 39°F current temp feel like a crisp 32°F. It's that "feels like" number that actually matters when you're walking the dog near National Boulevard.
- Today (Jan 17): Light snow, 41°F high.
- Tonight: Cloudy, dropping to 35°F with a 10% lingering snow chance.
- Tomorrow (Sunday, Jan 18): Snow showers are back. High of 37°F.
- Monday (Jan 19): Sunny but cold. 35°F / 23°F.
People think living by the ocean keeps us warmer in the winter. Kinda? But the humidity today is sitting at 69%, which means the cold just seeps into your bones. It's a heavy cold. Not like the dry chill you get upstate.
Why the 2026 Winter Feels Different
We're currently navigating a weak La Niña cycle. According to the National Weather Service, this usually means more variability for us. We’ve been seeing a trend over the last 15 years where our winters are either "record-breaking warm" or "intensely snowy." There’s almost no middle ground anymore.
The ocean temperature right now is hovering around 40°F. That’s tepid for a seal, but for humans? It’s a literal ice bath. Interestingly, the water has been warming up globally, and Long Beach is seeing that impact with more frequent "nuisance flooding" during high tides, even when there isn't a major storm in the Long Beach NY weather forecast.
The Mid-Week Deep Freeze
If you think today is chilly, just wait for Tuesday. We are looking at a high of only 25°F.
Twenty-five.
With 19 mph winds coming off the west, it’s going to feel like the Arctic.
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What to Actually Do With This Information
If you're planning to head out, don't trust the sun if it peeks out on Monday. The UV index is a measly 2, so you won't be catching any rays, but the wind chill will be brutal.
Actionable Next Steps for Long Beachers:
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- Check the Tides: With snow and rain in the mix for Thursday (Jan 22), keep an eye on the high tide cycles. Minor street flooding near the bayside is almost a given when we get 25% precipitation mixed with southwest winds.
- Layer for Humidity: Wear a windbreaker over your wool. The wool keeps the heat, the windbreaker keeps the damp salt air from cutting through it.
- Winterize the Pipes: With Monday and Tuesday nights hitting 23°F and 21°F, make sure your outdoor spigots are covered. Those are the "burst pipe" temps we all dread.
The rest of the week stays pretty unstable. We’ve got a mix of rain and snow predicted for Thursday with a high of 40°F, and then we dip back into the low 30s by next weekend. It’s classic January on Long Island—keep the shovel handy but don't be surprised if the rain washes it all away by noon.