Heat, Air Quality Advisories Issued For Long Island

LONG ISLAND, NY — It's going to be hot today and tomorrow, which has prompted the National Weather Service to issue heat and air quality advisories for Long Island.

Temperatures today are going to peak in the low 90s and in the high 80s on Saturday, leading to heat index values of up to 101 degrees today and 95 to 100 tomorrow. Because of that, the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for all of Nassau and for western Suffolk County.

In addition, the heat is creating more ozone at ground level, prompting the state to issue an air quality advisory for all of Long Island.

Rain is likely to hit the area Saturday afternoon into Saturday night, which will help cool things off a bit. There's also rain predicted for Sunday.

Here's the weekend forecast, from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Heat index values as high as 97. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

The air for today is listed as "Unhealthy for sensitive groups," which is in the middle of the Environmental Protection Agency's air quality monitoring index. The people most likely to be affected are people with existing lung conditions, those who are active outdoors, and children and the elderly, according to the EPA.

Low amounts of ozone can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, throat irritation and coughing, according to the EPA. It's possible for healthy people to be sensitive to ozone and experience symptoms, as well. It can also cause those with existing lung conditions, like asthma, to experience symptoms.

Symptoms of heat-related illnesses may include: headache, dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and low pulse rate. Other symptoms may include cold pale and clammy skin or hot, flushed dry skin.

Anyone experiencing symptoms of heat illness should immediately get into a cool, shady area to lower their temperature. For severe heat illness, call 911.