STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An air quality advisory has been issued by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for Staten Island for Sunday, according to AccuWeather.

The advisory extends from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

This comes after extreme heat is expected to hit the New York City area Sunday.

The advisory says that air quality levels in outdoor air are expected to be greater than the index value of 100.

Based on expected humidity, New York City may reach a heat index of 103 degrees between Sunday and Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

The advisory also mentions that pollution levels are expected to be elevated, which causes health concerns. Individuals who are looking to do strenuous outdoor physical activity are asked to reduce it, as those with preexisting respiratory problems are at risk, according to an alert put out by Notify NYC.

COOLING CENTERS

As the city continues its response to COVID-19, social distancing guidelines have been implemented to ensure the safety of any New Yorker who visits a cooling center to seek relief from the heat, according to city Emergency Management Department and the city Health Department. Face coverings must be worn at all times inside cooling centers, and attendees must adhere to social distancing guidelines of six feet or more, the Health Department said.

A citywide map of cooling elements can be found online at Cool It! NYC. To find your nearest cooling center, call 311 or visit the citys Cooling Center Finder. DOTs Open Streets also highlights each Cool Street across the city.

COOL STREETS

The city recently unveiled the first set of Cool Streets for this summer, announcing expanded cooling options on existing Open Streets in the most heat-burdened parts of New York City. The Cool It! NYC program prioritizes new cooling options on blocks in vulnerable neighborhoods with the highest tree-based shade and fire hydrants with spray caps, according to NYC Emergency Management. During heat advisories, NYCDEP and FDNY will proactively install spray caps on these streets hydrants to ensure every New Yorker living in a heat-burdened community is within 1/4 mile of an outdoor cooling element.

NYC Emergency Management released tips for protection against the heat:

See original here:

Heat, air quality advisory issued for Staten Island Sunday - SILive.com