Long Island weather: Sunny, dry Wednesday but air quality alert for LI

An air quality alert has been issued for Long Island, the National Weather  Service said Tuesday night, lasting from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday.

The alert, based on the amount of ozone in the air, means that those at risk -- the elderly, the very young and those with respiratory conditions -- should "consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity." It applies to Nassau and Suffolk counties and New York City, the service said in  its "hazardous weather statement."

Thanks to an area of high pressure, no rain is forecast until Thursday night and the temperature should be several degrees above normal, the service's Upton office said.

Otherwise, sunny, dry conditions with low humidity are expected Wednesday. Thursday starts out looking similar, but becomes unsettled later in the day, the weather service said.

Showers and perhaps a thunderstorm may arrive Thursday evening and overnight into Friday, though the precipitation should clear after that, the service said. That will help the temperature rise to the mid-80s.

Both Saturday and Sunday should be sunny, with highs in the upper 80s.

With Patricia Kitchen