HEAT ALERT: Dangerous heat, poor air quality and storm chance into holiday weekend
It will continue to feel like up to 115 degrees through Saturday with the chance for a few gusty thunderstorms Friday and Saturday evenings.
More Stories
ALERTS:
1) EXTREME HEAT WARNING is in effect from now through Saturday at 9 p.m.
2) AIR QUALITY ALERT is in effect until 11 p.m. tonight and again Friday 11 a.m to 11 p.m.
THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT
It will continue to feel uncomfortably warm and humid this evening - like the 80s and 90s through much the evening - under a mostly clear sky. The air quality will remain reduced, too.
INTENSE HEAT CONTINUES
The South Shore and East End beaches will continue to be places you can get some relief during the peak of this week's heat now through Saturday, but make sure to stay hydrated, use sunscreen and take some breaks. Away from the immediate coastline along the South Shore, actual air temperatures in the 90s to 100 degrees will combine with tropical-like humidity to make it feel like 100 to 115 through Saturday. Sunday will still be hot, but a little less extreme.
This, plus the poor air quality, can easily lead to heat-related illness if not taking breaks and preparing for the extreme heat. Limit strenuous outdoor activities - do whatever you can to keep your body cool while having some safe, low-energy summer fun. Those with pre-existing respiratory or heart-related illnesses will be most affected, but this is the type of heat and humidity that will affect anyone. Please also check on your pets and remember to check cars for anyone or any pets before walking away.
GUSTY THUNDERSTORM CHANCES
There is a slight chance for an isolated thunderstorm Friday evening, but a better chance will arrive early Saturday morning, before 7 a.m. and again Saturday night. This can impact July 4th evening plans and possibly some fireworks displays. There can be some strong thunderstorms after around 7 p.m. Saturday and through 11 p.m. Saturday night. Any passing scattered thunderstorm can have strong wind, tropical-like downpours and frequent lightning. News 12 will continue to have updates for you into and through the holiday weekend on-air, on social media and the News 12 APP.
100 DEGREE DAYS ON LONG ISLAND ARE RARE
Reaching an official air temperature at Islip MacArthur Airport here on Long Island of 100 degrees or hotter is extremely rare. It has actually only happened eight times since records have been kept at the airport since 1963 - one of those times was in June of last year. The forecast high on Friday is 100, which could be the ninth time in recorded history. This is not typical summer heat for Long Island. Our normal average highs this time of year are in the lower 80s.
Here are the eight times Islip has reached 100 degrees:
104°F – July 3, 1966 (Islip's record high)
102°F – July 5, 1999
101°F – July 6, 2010
101°F – July 21, 1991
101°F – June 24, 2025 (hottest June day on record)
100°F – July 22, 2011
100°F – August 2, 1975
100°F – August 9, 2001
ANY RECORD HEAT FOR LONG ISLAND?
While this week's heat can be dangerous, we are not expecting any official records to be broken at Islip MacArthur Airport at this time, but Saturday could be close!
TODAY: High: 96 | Record high: 99 (1966)
FRIDAY: Forecast high: 100 | Record high: 104 (1966)
SATURDAY: Forecast high: 96 | Record high: 97 (2010)
EXTENDED FORECAST
TONIGHT: Mostly clear, very warm and humid. Lows in the 70s to low 80s. Wind: southwest-west 5-10 mph.
FRIDAY: HEAT ALERT - STORM CHANCE - Hazy, hot and humid. Highs around 100. It will feel like 100 to 115. Use extreme caution and take breaks from the heat and stay hydrated. Slight chance for a shower or thunderstorm, but mostly dry. Lows near 77 and humid. Record High is 104, set in 1966.
SATURDAY: HEAT ALERT - FOURTH OF JULY - EVENING STORMS - Sun and clouds, with a few spotty showers and thunderstorms possible, mostly in the evening. A few may be strong. Hot and humid. Highs around 96 can feel like 95 to 110. Use extreme caution and take breaks from the heat and stay hydrated. Lows near 74.
SUNDAY: STILL HOT - SHOWER AND STORM CHANCE - Sun and clouds, with a few afternoon and evening showers and a thunderstorm possible. High temperatures around 90 and still humid. It will feel like the middle 90s. Lows near 70.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers likely. Temperatures around 82. Lows near 68.
TUESDAY: Showers to start. Drier in the afternoon and evening. Highs around 83. Lows near 68.
WEDNESDAY: Sun and clouds. Highs around 82 degrees. Lows near 68 degrees.
THURSDAY: Sun and clouds. Highs around 82. Lows near 68 degrees.
