Rough weather blamed as surfer dies off Rockaway Beach

The storm headed toward Long Island is packing strong winds that could down trees, tree limbs and wires.

As the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida threaten to wreak havoc on Long Island's coastline Friday, the system is already being partially blamed in the death of a surfer in the waters off Rockaway Beach.

The unidentified 36-year-old man's leg strap attached to a surfboard became tangled and the rough surf pushed him toward a jetty, officials said. Emergency medical technicians attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at a hospital.

With winds forecast to gust up to 35 mph and rain expected to fall all day, Nassau and Suffolk officials closely watched the storm Thursday as it crawled up the East Coast after drenching the Carolinas.

Freeport and Nassau County emergency management officials said they were ready to evacuate residents from low-lying areas south of Atlantic Avenue if conditions worsen.

A low-pressure system off North Carolina - the remains of Ida, which ceased to be a tropical storm earlier this week - combined with a high-pressure system over New England to produce strong winds, sustained high seas and prolonged periods of rain, the National Weather Service said. Friday's forecast calls for rain and winds gusting from 25 to 35 mph, National Weather Service meteorologist John Murray said. More rain is forecast for Saturday morning before the storm begins to move off the Island later in the afternoon. The sun should return on Sunday, he said.