Poor Air Quality Advisory Extends Through Friday, Heat Index Of 98

LONG ISLAND, NY — An air quality advisory has been extended through Friday for Long Island, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced.

The pollutant of concern is ozone, and the advisory was originally issued on Thursday.

The alert is in effect until 11 p.m.

Ozone is the principal component of the mixture of air pollutants known as “smog” that is produced from the action of sunlight on air contaminants from automobile exhausts and other sources.

Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott advises that all residents, especially young children, seniors, those who exercise outdoors, and those with pre-existing respiratory or heart problems, limit strenuous outdoor activity. Ozone levels are often elevated after noon through early evening on hot, sunny days. If you experience eye, nose and throat irritation, shortness of breath, chest pain contact your medical provider.

Ozone levels are most likely to be elevated after noon through early evening on hot, sunny days.

The alert comes after a heat advisory was extended from Thursday morning into Saturday evening for Long Island.

Friday will reach a heat index as high as 98 degrees, the National Weather Service said.

A heat advisory is issued when the combination of heat and humidity is expected to make it feel like it is 95 to 99 degrees for two or more consecutive days, or 100 to 104 degrees for any length of time.