Heat, humidity continue to engulf NYC metro area; air quality alert issued

Steamy summer weather conditions continue to engulf the New York City metro area Thursday -- as a heat advisory is up for parts of the region.

Heat index levels, like Wednesday, will reach 90+ for many Thursday.

A heat advisory has been issued for parts of the Hudson Valley where the heat index could be over 95.

A spotty shower or storm could pop up Thursday afternoon particularly toward the the north and west of the city.

Additionally, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for the New York City Metro and Long Island regions for Thursday. The advisory is in effect 11 a.m. through 11 p.m. on Thursday.

Air Quality Health Advisory regions consist of: New York City Metro, which includes New York City, Rockland, and Westchester counties; and Lower Hudson Valley which includes Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Ulster, and Sullivan counties.

This advisory follows another air quality advisory that was issued Wednesday. However, on Wednesday, part of the advisory had to due with the remnants of fireworks. Elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution were recorded primarily due to fireworks displays causing temporary spikes in this fine particulate matter and not the Canadian wildfires, according to the DEC.

It will be a very similar day heat-wise on Friday.

By the weekend, however, we’re already back closer to average, but we keep the humidity. Temperatures will drop a few degrees this weekend, but it stays sticky. 

We expect just a few showers Saturday, but Sunday late afternoon-evening looks most likely with decent rainfall through Monday.

See below Storm Team 4's exclusive 10-day forecast.