Long Island is in for more heat and unhealthy air for the start of the workweek, with a high closing in on the mid-90s by Tuesday, and spiking vehicle and industrial emissions pushing the ozone level above 100 on Monday, officials said.
After Sunday saw temperatures climb to 90 degrees in spots, Monday is forecast to be sunny with a high of 87, dropping to 71 in the evening, officials said.
The peak of extreme heat is expected to hit Tuesday, with highs in the mid-90s. The heat combined with humidity will make it feel like 100 degrees on Long Island and higher in New York City, according to the National Weather Service.
“This level of heat affects anyone without effective cooling and hydration,” the weather service wrote in a statement on Sunday, adding that “those with underlying illness” and older Long Islanders are at heightened risk.
State officials issued an air quality health advisory for Long Island on Sunday that it extended in the afternoon until 11 p.m. Monday, urging people to turn off lights and electrical appliances when they’re not being used.
“Summer heat can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of photochemical smog, the advisory said. “Automobile exhaust and out-of-state emission sources are the primary sources of ground-level ozone and 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.”
Air quality is considered satisfactory if the index value lands between 0 and 50. A value between 51 and 100 puts “those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution” at risk, while an index between 101 and 150 can cause health effects for “members of sensitive groups,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The heat could also reach historic levels this week.
“There’s a high likelihood of records being broken across the tristate area,” NewsdayTV meteorologist Rich Von Ohlen said on Saturday.
Nassau and Suffolk counties have opened cooling centers, splash parks, public pools and beaches to help residents manage the heat. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman opened three cooling centers on Friday in Hicksville, Wantagh and Uniondale:
- Cantiague Park administration office, 480 W. John St., Hicksville, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Wantagh administration building, 1 King Rd., Wantagh, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Mitchel Field administration building, 1 Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Uniondale, open 24 hours.
Newsday previously reported a complete list of cooling sites.
