Air quality alert issued for New York City as high temps continue

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality advisory from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday.

News 12 Staff

Aug 27, 2021, 10:10 AM

Updated 1,138 days ago

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Though the weekend is almost upon us, today you might want to consider staying inside.
The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality advisory from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, warning of an elevated ozone that makes the air unhealthy for sensitive groups.
That means there is a high potential that the pollution in the air will exceed an air quality index value of 100.
But the weather advisories didn't scare everyone away- people in Belmont were still going about their daily routines, from grabbing a coffee to taking their daily walks.
Jeffrey Evans tells News 12 that he likes to cool off at fire hydrants when they have spray caps on for recreational use.
"I'm an old guy, I use fire hydrants and I have my swim trunks on," he says. "So from the Bronx to Queens, where there's an open fire hydrant I usually get in the fire hydrant, get back on my bike and ride all the way out to Queens."
If you suffer from respiratory issues such as asthma, experts suggest you stay indoors. If you do have to head outside, it is recommended that you limit strenuous activity and take it slow.
Contact your doctor if you start to feel short of breath, feel chest pain, or begin coughing.
The city is still under a heat advisory for the day as well, giving you even more reason to stay inside and beat the heat.
If you do not have access to air conditioning at home, there are cooling centers open throughout the five boroughs.
And if you want to cool off like Jeffrey Evans, you can go to your local firehouse to request to have a hydrant fitted with a spray cap and opened for recreational use.
News 12 has more tips to help you beat the heat that you can read here.