Long Island weather: Heat advisory remains in effect through Saturday evening
Diana Gutierrez swims with her grandchildren Javid Rezanejad, center, and Leila at Sunken Meadow State Park beach on Friday. Credit: Johnny Milano
The heat that has brought sweltering temperatures to Long Island will continue through Saturday evening, followed by a cold front.
The National Weather Service said the heat advisory for Nassau and Suffolk counties would continue through 8 p.m. Saturday with temperatures expected to reach around 90 degrees, the weather service said Friday afternoon.
Elevated temperatures and high humidity can lead to heat-related illness, particularly in vulnerable populations. To beat the heat, people without air conditioning can go to the Island's cooling centers.
The hot conditions are expected to break Saturday evening, though there's a chance of damaging winds, showers and thunderstorms in the late afternoon, the weather service said.
TIPS ON STAYING COOL
- Stay hydrated with water and avoid sugary drinks.
- Limit outdoor activity. If you don't have air conditioning, go to a cooling center or an indoor public place such as a shopping mall or library.
- Keep pets out of the hot sun and provide unlimited fresh water.
- Dial 911 immediately if someone is not sweating, their mental status is altered, and their skin is red, hot and dry. They could be experiencing heatstroke.
- Check on elderly neighbors, who are vulnerable to extreme heat.
After that, the area is expected to dry out and have more seasonable temperatures, likely in the lower 80s. Similar weather will continue into early next week, forecasters say.
"So, if we can get through this sort of speed bump with the heat today and tomorrow, I think the payoff will be nice for folks as we get into next week," said Dominic Ramunni, a NWS meteorologist.
Friday's air quality was unhealthy for sensitive groups, the orange category. Saturday will drop to the yellow category, or moderate, then the green, or good, category on Sunday.
A heat advisory is the lowest level of warning, while an excessive heat warning is the highest level, according to the NWS.
Heat-related illness such as heat stroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible with prolonged outdoor exposure or physical activity, the weather service said. Forecasters warn the risk increases in vulnerable populations, including young children, seniors and those with preexisting medical conditions such as respiratory and heart ailments.
To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments, adding: "Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location."
For those planning to be outdoors Friday and Saturday, the weather service recommends drinking plenty of fluids, limiting strenuous activities to the early morning or evening, wearing lightweight and loosefitting clothing and being aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. These include: high body temperature; hot, red, dry or damp skin; a fast, strong pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; and, in extreme cases, a loss of consciousness.
Anyone suffering signs of heat stroke should call 911, officials said, reminding: "Heat stroke is an emergency."
With John Valenti
FRIDAY, SATURDAY COOLING CENTER LOCATIONS
The Town of Oyster Bay
Cooling centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center, 1001 Stewart Ave., Bethpage, and the Town of Oyster Bay Hicksville Athletic Center, 167 S. Broadway, Hicksville.
Community pools will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Marjorie Post Community Park, 451 Unqua Rd., Massapequa; Syosset-Woodbury Community Park, 7800 Jericho Tpke., Woodbury; Bethpage Community Park, 1001 Stewart Ave., Bethpage; Plainview-Old Bethpage Community Park, 175 Washington Ave., Plainview; and at Tappen Beach, Shore Road, Glenwood Landing.
Swimming at town beaches, including Tobay Beach and Spray Park, will remain open until 7 p.m.
Town of Hempstead
Beach hours have been extended to 7 p.m. and all town pool hours until 8 p.m. Cooling centers will operate out of town senior centers from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Town of Huntington
Cooling centers will operate at the Dix Hills Ice Rink, 575 Vanderbilt Pkwy., Dix Hills, from noon to 8 p.m. and at the Town of Huntington Senior Center (Flanagan Center) 423 Park Ave, Huntington, until 4 p.m.
Crab Meadow, West Neck, Hobart and Centerport Beaches will be open with stationed lifeguards until 8 p.m.
The Dix Hills pool will be open to Huntington Town residents from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Both Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo Memorial Spray Park, located on Cuba Hill Road in Elwood, and the Manor Field Spray Park on East Fifth Street in Huntington Station will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The spray parks open at 10 a.m. for children with special needs.
State facilities
Cantiague Park Administration Office, 480 West John St., Hicksville.
Mitchel Field Complex Administration Building, 1 Charles Lindbergh Blvd, Uniondale.
Wantagh Park Administration Building, 1 King Rd., Wantagh.
Amagansett Free Library, 215 Main St, Amagansett.
North Babylon Public Library, 815 Deer Park Ave, North Babylon.
For a list of hours and contact phone numbers, go to https://apps.health.ny.gov/statistics/environmental/public_health_tracking/tracker/#/CCList
Education: Howard University
Tiffany Cusaac-Smith came to Newsday in 2023 after being a race and history reporter at USA TODAY, where she wrote enterprise and spot articles examining how the past shapes the present. Previously, she worked as the race and justice reporter at the USA TODAY Network of New York, covering issues such as criminal justice reform, housing, environmental justice, health care and politics. At The Journal News/lohud.com in Westchester County, she covered Yonkers, the state's third-largest city. She also worked at The Associated Press in Atlanta.
Honors and Awards: Criminal justice reporting fellowship with the National Press Foundation; New York News Publishers Association award for distinguished investigative reporting; Contributed reporting for Best of Gannett honor; Member of Table Stakes, a program funded by the Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund and managed by the American Press Institute to transform local news.
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