Ozone Advisory Issued On Long Island; Widespread Haze Expected

LONG ISLAND, NY — An air quality advisory is issued on Long Island for Monday, due to ozone pollutants, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and State Department of Health announced.

The ozone advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., as DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution to exceed an Air Quality Index value of 100.

Summer heat can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone — a major component of photochemical smog, the DEC said. Automobile exhaust and out-of-state emission sources are the primary sources of ground-level ozone and are the most serious air pollution problems in the northeast.

This surface pollutant should not be confused with the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere, the DEC said.

Long Island will experience a widespread haze around 2 p.m., and it will continue into the evening, the National Weather Service said.

Ozone is not a direct emission. It is produced indirectly when sunlight chemically reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from automobile exhaust and industrial emissions, the DEC said.

The smoky and hazy sky in an otherwise mostly sunny, stagnant air mass can be very conducive for ozone production. The wildfire smoke can enhance the ozone production, but it's not the primary component.

People, especially young children, those who exercise outdoors, those involved in vigorous outdoor work and those who have respiratory disease (such as asthma) should consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity when ozone levels are the highest (generally afternoon to early evening), the DEC said.

When outdoor levels of ozone are elevated, going indoors will usually reduce your exposure. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing should consider consulting their doctor.

Ozone levels generally decrease at night and can be minimized during daylight hours by curtailment of automobile travel and the use of public transportation where available.

An air quality advisory was also issued for the New York City metro area, the Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, Eastern Lake Ontario, Central New York, and Western New York for due to fine particulate matter pollutants.

In addition to an air quality advisory, the National Weather Service issued a high rip current risk for southern Suffolk and southern Nassau counties.

The warning is in effect until Monday evening. Anyone visiting the beaches should stay out of the surf, the service said.

If caught in a rip current, relax and float, and do not swim against the current. If able, swim in
a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and yell or wave for help, the service said.

Don't put away your umbrellas yet, Long Island. After Monday, rain is predicted to become a permanent visitor every day this week.

Here's the full week's forecast from the National Weather Service:

Monday: Widespread haze after 2 p.m. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 87. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Widespread haze. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 7 to 9 mph.

Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 7 to 11 mph.

Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 5 to 9 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Northwest wind around 7 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Thursday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.