WANTAGH, NY — The FourLeaf Air Show at Jones Beach came to an early conclusion this year, with the Monday performance being canceled amid a rain storm that has already prompted a state of emergency declaration from Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
In an announcement, officials said the weather being forecasted for Monday would have made it impossible for planes to operate safety. Specifically, officials said visibility in the planes would become a concern.
According to a Monday morning announcement, flooding is possible in parts of Nassau and Suffolk and will remain possible through Monday night. Multiple rounds of heavy rain are expected through Monday night with total rainfall of 2 to 3 inches, including hourly rainfalls of up to 2 inches, officials said. Those conditions, officials said, could lead to flash flooding.
“While we’re disappointed that we won’t be able to be at Jones Beach today, we are incredibly grateful for the unforgettable weekend we shared celebrating America’s 250th,” the air show’s website reads. “Thank you to the hundreds of thousands of spectators who joined us, and to the talented aviators from the United States and around the world who made this year’s Air Show so special.”
While the air show ended prematurely, officials still labeled its 2026 attendance “incredible.” Organizers said there were 122,000 people at Jones Beach for Friday’s practice show, 192,000 for the July 4 fireworks show, and 268,000 in attendance for the July 5 air show. The cumulative attendance, officials said, was 582,000 people over three days.
As for the weather, Monday's storm comes after a holiday weekend that saw thousands of Long Islanders lose power as tree limbs fell across the island.
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