is one more piece of the tidal puzzle that may be just as important as knowing what causes high or low tides: paddlers should understand how the changing tides and their currents interact with the environment around them. For example, as a tide rises or falls, water will flow into or out of an area, flooding or ebbing, respectively. As it does this, it may get pinched between two land masses or pass over a deeper region of water, speeding up the tidal current as a result. Alternately, currents running through a wider gap in land masses or over shallower water will slow down. Tidal currents can also form reverse eddies, or areas where the flow actually heads in the opposite direction, wherever they pass an obstruction such as a jetty, dock, or sandbar. As anyone who has ever tried to paddle against a strong current can attest, reverse eddies can be a blessing.
Obviously, the tidal system is very complex and would be quite hard to keep track of were it not for tide tables. A paddler’s best friend, these charts predict the heights and times of both high and low tides, sometimes listing the information years in advance. Tide tables can be found in most major newspapers and are also printed in convenient booklets sold in boating-supply stores. They are also published annually in the legendary Eldridge Tide and Pilot Book (to order, call 800-992-3045 or 617-482-8460) and are updated continuously on websites such as saltwatertides.com and mobilegeographics.com. If you own a smartphone, you can even download apps that literally put tidal information in the palm of your hand.
WEATHER BY SEASON
Long Island experiences relatively mild winters, with average temperatures around 31°F. Along with New York City, it may only see temperatures fall below zero in two or three winters a decade. Such conditions are due in part to these locations’ proximity to water. The Atlantic Ocean, Long Island Sound, and Great South Bay retain their summer warmth for quite some time and warm the land near them as a result. Long Island’s winters aren’t overly cold, but they are usually quite wet, with about 3.5 inches of rain and anywhere from 3–10 inches of snow falling each month (although some parts of the island may receive more precipitation than others).
Moderately high temperatures are usually seen on Long Island and in New York City during the summer months. These areas are also considerably more humid than other areas of the state because of their proximity to large bodies of water. Thankfully, these waters also bring breezes to the island most summer afternoons, making the heat more bearable.
Summer also marks the beginning of Long Island’s hurricane season, with storms most likely to hit during August and September. Some incredibly strong hurricanes have hit Long Island in the past, leaving behind significant damage and greatly altering the island’s topography. Fortunately for its residents, Long Island sits at a high enough latitude with cold enough waters that most storms weaken before they strike. Nevertheless, hurricanes remain a potential danger during the warm, humid dog days of summer.
Long Island’s weather is quite pleasant during these seasons, again because of the moderating effect of the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island Sound, and Great South Bay. Because these waters warm slowly during the spring, they cool the air considerably, keeping the island’s temperatures in the 60s until mid-May. Conversely, these bodies of water retain their summer heat and help warm the land near them. Thus, Long Island can see temperatures hovering in the 70s throughout much of September and October.
WILDLIFE
While Long Island has no dangerous native insects, there are three that can cause a great deal of discomfort and annoyance: the mosquito, the greenhead fly, and the tick.
All three, unfortunately, are plentiful across Long Island and the New York City area, although mosquitoes and greenheads are predominantly found along the beaches and marshes of both the North and South shores. Both are incredibly aggressive biters and cause welts that burn and itch. They often occur in swarms that have been known to follow a person for long distances. These species are most active during spring and early summer months, although both pests can sometimes remain active well into the fall. Dozens of repellents exist; everyone has a personal favorite. The most common comprise a bug net that can be worn over the head and bug spray. Most people agree that sprays containing DEET work the best, although there is some evidence that the chemical can lead to certain health problems. Organic sprays sometimes work just as well as the others. Keep in mind that different repellents may work for different people, so try a few and find the one that works best for you.
Ticks, on the other hand, are tiny parasitic insects that live by feeding on the blood of other animals. Two distinct species—the wood (dog) tick and its smaller cousin, the deer tick—can be found on most parts of Long Island but are most prevalent inland near its center and farther east on both the North and South forks. While both kinds of ticks are a nuisance, the tiny deer tick is the one to be most wary of, as it has been found to carry and transmit Lyme disease. In general, deer ticks are much smaller than wood ticks—about the size of a freckle—and are uniformly dark in color, whereas wood ticks usually have white spots.
Though ticks pose little threat to paddlers on the water, they can easily catch a ride on your clothing or gear while you’re walking from your car to the shore, or while you portage or camp. The best way to prevent picking up these unwanted tagalongs is to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts in light colors, so the pests are easy to spot and remove. Bug repellent also keeps them away. Once off the water, thoroughly check your arms, legs, hair, and the rest of your body for any attached ticks. For ticks that are already embedded, removal with sharp tweezers is best: place them as close to skin as possible and gently rotate out, taking care not to squeeze the tick. Use disinfectant solution on the wound.
Although it takes a few hours for a tick to transmit a disease to a person it’s bitten, the site should be watched carefully for the next few days for any changes. Lyme disease often shows itself as a red, circular, bull’s-eye-shaped rash, but it may not produce any outward symptoms at all. When in doubt, see your doctor.
Long Island’s waters are home to two species of jellyfish: the moon jelly and the lion’s mane (red jelly). While the disk-shaped moon jelly is harmless, the orange lion’s mane can produce an itching, burning rash when it stings bare skin. A lion’s-mane sting can be serious for a person who is allergic to the venom; otherwise it causes only temporary discomfort. Pouring vinegar on the sting site can alleviate the burning and itching.
The only reptile that may be of concern to Long Island paddlers is the snapping turtle. This fairly large turtle can be found across Long Island in both fresh and salt water. While it usually steers clear of humans, it will bite if disturbed. And with its sharp, hard, beaklike mouth, the snapping turtle can do
