Heat Advisory in Effect for Suffolk County Through Wednesday Evening

A Heat Advisory was in place Wednesday for northwest Suffolk County until 9 p.m., with the National Weather Service projecting heat index values could climb as high as 102 degrees. A separate air quality advisory from the state applied to Long Island from 10 a.m. through midnight, with fine particle pollution identified as the primary health concern.

The Town of Smithtown rolled out a series of measures to help residents cope with the heat. The Smithtown Senior Center was made available as a cooling site, and Smithtown Splash Parks were set to operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The pool at Landing Country Club was likewise kept open until 7 p.m.

"As dangerously high temperatures settle over our region, our highest priority is making sure every resident has a safe place to find relief from the heat," Supervisor Ed Wehrheim said. He called on residents to look in on elderly neighbors, young children and anyone who lacks air conditioning.

Seniors in need of a cooling location outside of normal business hours were instructed to call Smithtown Public Safety at 631-360-7553.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation identified fine particles as the pollutant driving the air quality advisory across Long Island, the New York City metro area, the Lower and Upper Hudson Valley, the Adirondacks and much of upstate New York. Health officials recommend that sensitive populations — including older adults, children and those with respiratory or heart conditions — curtail extended time outdoors when air quality alerts are elevated.

Residents were also urged to stay alert for symptoms of heat-related illness. Heat stroke constitutes a medical emergency; anyone suffering from heat distress should be taken to a cool, shaded area without delay, and 911 should be called immediately if heat stroke is suspected.