Rain Keeps Most Visitors Away From Rockaway Beach on Memorial Day

Rain limited crowds at Rockaway Beach during the Memorial Day weekend. The National Weather Service recorded nearly two inches of precipitation at JFK Airport from Friday through Monday. Business owners said the weather cut earnings. Sean Aiken, who owns Seany Pizza near Beach 98th Street, stated that a typical Memorial Day brings about $12,000 in sales while this weekend produced roughly $1,000.

A small number of residents still visited the boardwalk.

Ray Otton, 44, and his wife Moe Otton attended the Rockaway Beach Day Parade and said the community turns out regardless of conditions. Christa Bauer, 56, and her husband Chris Bauer, 47, sat at Bar 97 with their dog. Bauer said they chose to go out rather than stay indoors.

Beach Conditions Few people entered the water.

Fourteen-year-old Kevin Paskewitz of Breezy Point was the only swimmer observed on Monday. An 18-year-old lifeguard on duty said the water was too cold to enter. Aiken noted that Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day normally account for half of annual revenue for peninsula businesses. He expressed hope that weather would improve for the rest of the season.