Hot, Humid Weather To Blanket LI Tuesday; Air Quality Alert In Effect

LONG ISLAND, NY – Baby, it's hot outside: But although New York City is set to sizzle Tuesday, with a heat advisory issued and a heat index making it feel as though it's about 100 degrees — on Long Island, the temps will not reach that level, but are still expected to be uncomfortably hot.

According to James Tomasini of the National Weather Service Office in Upton, Tuesday's temperatures across Long Island are expected to reach the upper 80s to low 90s, with a heat index making it feel like the upper 90s. "It's going to be hot and humid," he said.

In addition, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality alert from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday for both Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 100 for the pollutant of ground level ozone, the NYSDEC said, The Air Quality Index, or AQI, was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale. The higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern, the NYSDEC said.

"When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young, and those with preexisting respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease. Those with symptoms should consider consulting their personal physician," officials said.

According to Tomasini, Wednesday is expected to be cooler, in the mid-80s, but still humid, with heat index values in the upper 80s to low 90s.

Scattered thunderstorms will roll through the area Wednesday and continue into Friday; however, Tomasini said, Thursday and Friday could bring some relief, with temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s.