State Agencies Issue Weather Warnings for Friday

The record temperatures predicted for Friday and through the weekend in Babylon Village and across Long Island have prompted several state agencies to issue heat advisories and air quality alerts.

Heat Warnings

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for western Long Island, as well as a heat advisory for eastern Long Island, both effective from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday.

The warning is due to heat index values forecast to be around 105 degrees, while the advisory is due to values predicted around 100 degrees, according to the NWS.

“Drink plenty of fluids. Stay in an air-conditioned room. Stay out of the sun. Check on relatives and neighbors,” cautioned the NWS, which also offered the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommendation to “schedule frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments to reduce risk during outdoor work.”

In addition, the NWS is advising anyone overcome by heat be moved to a cool and shaded location. “Heat stroke is an emergency. Call 911,” the NWS said.

Air Quality Alerts

In addition, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has declared the air quality for Friday as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in the New York City Metro area and Long Island on its website.

The NYS DEC has cited ozone levels topping 100 on the Air Quality Index (AQI) as the reason for its alert.

The New York State Department of Transportation issued its own warning Thursday afternoon, declaring Friday an Air Quality Action Day. The NYS DOT release also cited “forecasted high levels of ground-level ozone pollution in parts of the region.”

The NYS DOT is encouraging people not to drive so as not to add to the pollution quotient and offering the following steps to help prevent pollution:

    Combine errands into a single trip.

    Postpone unnecessary trips.

    Take the subway, bus or train instead of driving.

    Avoid letting vehicles idle, such as at the drive-thru.

According to the release, ground-level ozone is a respiratory irritant that can trigger asthma attacks and aggravate emphysema, bronchitis and other respiratory ailments.

In addition, it noted, “Children, people with pre-existing respiratory or heart conditions, people doing strenuous outdoor work or exercise and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the effects of ozone.”

Residents can visit the NYS DOT’s Clean Air NY website for more information and to learn more about improving air quality.