Rain delay for summer start as showers batter area

SUMMER’S GOING to have to wait a little while longer.

Sunday’s rain put a damper on what is traditionally the unofficial start of summer, throwing a big wet blanket on a bunch of Memorial Day weekend bashes.

As much as 4 inches of rain fell in some places along the Jersey Shore, a popular destination for many holiday revelers.

Even with the heat from the grill, temperatures around much of the region were about 20 degrees cooler Sunday than they were on Saturday.

The rain forced the annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach to cancel on Sunday.

“Weather conditions prohibit the performers from being able to fly,” organizers said on the event’s Facebook page.

“The safety of the performers and the spectators is our first concern.”

This year’s air show broke attendance records on Friday and Saturday, with more than 82,000 visitors during rehearsal, and more than 193,000 attendees during Saturday’s air show. The show will not be rescheduled for Monday.

Also canceled were aerial events for Fleet Week and the Freedom Run, officials said.

And another scratch was the Log Jam Music Festival in Patchogue, L.I.

Clouds will linger on Memorial Day, but the sun is expected to return Monday afternoon, with temperatures in the 70s.