You’ve probably been there. You check your phone, see a sun icon, and walk out the door in a light hoodie only to get smacked by a damp, bone-chilling breeze coming off the Sound. If you live anywhere near Old Country Road or Manetto Hill, you know that plainview ny weather hourly updates are more of a suggestion than a rule. Long Island weather is notoriously fickle, and Plainview sits in that weird sweet spot where the North Shore’s moisture meets the central island’s temperature swings.
Honestly, tracking the weather here isn't just about knowing if it's going to rain. It's about surviving the 4:00 PM temperature cliff or knowing when the humidity is going to make the LIE a foggy nightmare.
The Plainview Microclimate: What Your Phone Misses
Plainview isn't exactly the Hamptons, but it isn't Queens either. We are inland enough to lose the immediate cooling effect of the ocean in the summer, yet close enough to the Long Island Sound to get those weird "backdoor" cold fronts.
Today, January 14, 2026, is a perfect example of why the plainview ny weather hourly forecast can be so tricky. While the "official" high might say 50°F, the humidity is sitting at a heavy 77%. That means that 44°F current temperature feels a lot more like 39°F. When the air is this saturated, the cold doesn't just sit on your skin—it gets into your bones.
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The wind is coming out of the south at about 8 mph right now. That sounds mild, right? But as the sun goes down and that southerly flow drags in more moisture, we’re looking at a 95% chance of rain tonight. If you're planning on hitting the Fairway Market or grabbing dinner at Coliseum Kitchen, you're going to want the heavy-duty umbrella, not the travel-sized one that flips inside out at the first sign of a gust.
A Typical January Day in Plainview
Most people think January is just "cold." It's actually a bit more nuanced.
Historically, the average high in Plainview for mid-January is around 38°F, with lows dipping to 27°F.
This year, we're actually running a bit warm.
But "warm" in a Long Island winter usually just means "wet."
- The Morning Frost: Usually peaks around 6:00 AM. If you're commuting to the city via the Hicksville LIRR station, this is when you’ll be scraping ice.
- The Noon Peak: By 1:00 PM, we usually hit our daily high. Today that’s 50°F, which is actually quite pleasant for 2026.
- The Sunset Drop: Sunsets in January happen early, around 4:50 PM. The second that sun dips behind the trees in Trail View State Park, the temperature drops about 5 degrees in thirty minutes.
Why Plainview NY Weather Hourly Data Matters for Commuters
If you're taking the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway (Route 135), the hourly forecast is your best friend. Plainview is hilly compared to the rest of the island. When we get "mixed precipitation"—that annoying slushy combo of rain and snow—the 135 can turn into a skating rink faster than the flatter parts of the South Shore.
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Right now, the barometer is holding steady at 29.69 in. That’s relatively low. Low pressure usually means the atmosphere is "unstable," which explains the impending rain. By 10:00 PM tonight, that 95% precipitation chance kicks in. If you're coming home late, watch out for "black ice" on the overpasses, especially near the Northern State Parkway interchange.
Winter 2026 Trends to Watch
This winter has been weirdly mild so far. We’re seeing more "rain days" than "snow days." In fact, Plainview usually sees about 8 days of rain in January, and we're already on track to beat that.
- Average Wind Speed: 17.1 mph (January is historically the windiest month here).
- Cloud Cover: It’s overcast about 52% of the time this month.
- Sunlight: We're gaining about a minute of daylight every day now, which is the only thing keeping most of us going through the "gray season."
Dealing with the "Gray" Days: Indoor Plainview Picks
When the plainview ny weather hourly forecast tells you to stay inside, you don't have to just sit on the couch. Plainview and the surrounding areas (Syosset, Bethpage, Old Bethpage) have some solid "bad weather" escapes.
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Honestly, if it’s pouring, I usually head over to the AMC in Levittown or just spend too much time at the Mid-Island Y JCC. If you’ve got kids and the rain is turning the backyard into a swamp, Bounce! Family Entertainment Center in Syosset is literally a five-minute drive from the heart of Plainview.
For the more adventurous, there's a rage room—Smash-It Therapy—over in Westbury. It’s a great way to handle the stress of the LIE traffic when it’s raining. Or, if you want to keep it local, the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library is actually one of the best on the island for just killing a rainy afternoon with a decent book and some peace and quiet.
Actionable Tips for Navigating Plainview Weather
Don't just trust the big yellow sun icon on your phone. Look at the "Dew Point" and the "Wind Chill." Those two numbers tell the real story of how you're going to feel when you step out of your car at the Woodbury Shopping Center.
- Check the Radar, Not the Forecast: Forecasts are models; radar is reality. If you see a green blob moving over Huntington, it’ll be in Plainview in twenty minutes.
- The "North Shore" Rule: If it's snowing in Woodbury, it's probably just raining in Plainview. But if it starts sticking here, it’s going to be a mess in Syosset.
- Dress in Shells: A waterproof outer layer is more important than a thick wool coat in Plainview. Our winter is more "wet-cold" than "dry-cold."
Tonight, the rain is going to be steady. It’s that fine, misty Long Island rain that somehow finds its way through the "waterproof" seams of your jacket. Keep an eye on the hourly transition around 8:00 PM; that's when the light showers turn into a legitimate downpour. If you have errands to run, get them done before the 9:00 PM visibility drop.
Plan for a low of 41°F overnight. It won't freeze, so no need to worry about the pipes yet, but it’ll be damp enough to make tomorrow morning’s commute feel much colder than the thermometer says. Grab the waterproof boots and leave five minutes early—the Northern State is never kind in the rain.