Editing Massapequa, New York (section)

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|4.0|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|3.7|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.4|sqmi|km2}}, or 9.20%, is water.

Massapequa and nearby places with "Massapequa" in their names are sometimes collectively called "the Massapequas".<ref>[http://massapequa.patch.com/listings/historical-society-of-the-massapequas Historical Society of the Massapequas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008214832/http://massapequa.patch.com/listings/historical-society-of-the-massapequas |date=October 8, 2012 }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
[[File:Massapequa-map.gif|thumb|left|U.S. Census map of Massapequa]]

Massapequa has a temperate climate that is very similar to other coastal areas of the [[Northeastern United States]]; it has warm, humid summers and cold winters, but the [[Atlantic Ocean]] helps bring afternoon sea breezes that temper the heat in the warmer months and limit the frequency and severity of thunderstorms. However, severe thunderstorms are not uncommon, especially when they approach the island from the mainland (Bronx, Westchester and Connecticut) in the northwest. In the wintertime, temperatures are warmer than areas further inland (especially in the night and early morning hours), often causing a snowstorm further inland to fall as rain on the island. However, measurable snowfalls every winter, and in many winters one or more intense storms called [[Nor'easters]] may occasionally produce blizzard conditions with snowfalls of 1–2 feet (30–60&nbsp;cm) and near-hurricane-force winds. On average, 28" of snow falls each winter in Massapequa.<ref>{{cite web |title=Weather at New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK): Weather and Climate in New York Area, NY, USA |url=http://new-york-jfk.airports-guides.com/jfk_climate.html}}</ref> Long Island temperatures also vary from west to east, with the western part of the island warmer on most occasions than the east. This is due to two factors; one because the western part is closer to the mainland and the other is the western part is more developed causing what is known as the [[urban heat island]] effect.

This climate is classified as hot-summer [[humid continental climate|humid continental]] (''Dfa'') which borders upon a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'') on the coast. Average monthly temperatures in the central CDP range from 31.4&nbsp;°F in January to 74.3&nbsp;°F in July.<ref>{{cite web |title=PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University |url=https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/}}</ref>

On August 25, 2006, a small F0 [[tornado]] struck Massapequa.

On Monday, October 29, 2012, [[Hurricane Sandy]] devastated much of Massapequa – especially south of [[Merrick Road]], where surging flood waters rose both along the shore and along the numerous canals that run a mile inland. Schools were closed for several days and weeks.  Many residents remained without power for weeks after the storm because of downed power lines.  Hundreds of houses and buildings sustained major flood damage and had to be gutted and renovated during the ensuing year.