Hudson Valley Hazardous Outlook, Heat Advisory, Air Quality Alert

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — With temps in the 90s and humidity that's high enough to make it feel much hotter, we are definitely in mid-August. New York City and southern Westchester are going to feel it the most, according to the National Weather Service:

• Heat Advisory until August 17, 06:00 PM EDT

Plus, the ozone pollution is bad enough that an air quality alert is in effect until 11 p.m. for Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties. (To get weather news straight to your inbox, sign up for Patch’s daily newsletters and alerts.)

• Air Quality Alert

"The good news, is that there will be no rain on Thursday," said Alex Marra and Bill Potter of Hudson Valley Weather. "That… we’ll save for Friday."

The NWS has already issued warnings about Friday for Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster and Westchester.

• Hazardous Weather Outlook

But first we have to cope with the heat and the bad air.

There are several steps you can take to reduce your exposure during an ozone advisory. Whenever possible, try to limit outdoor activities during peak ozone hours. Schedule outdoor exercise or activities for the morning hours when ozone levels are generally lower.

"Ozone levels are usually highest after noon and through early evening hours on hot, sunny days, and therefore this part of the day is the peak time for symptoms. Performing vigorous exercise outdoors such as running also makes a person more likely to experience symptoms from exposure to ozone," said Rockland County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert.

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