The heat wave spreading across the country is moving east toward Long Island where officials are preparing for steamy temperatures starting Thursday.
With temperatures expected to hover around the mid-90s through Saturday in Nassau and Suffolk counties, officials opened cooling centers Wednesday and the Long Island Power Authority urged customers to conserve energy.
National Weather Service forecasters issued an air quality alert for the region and an excessive heat watch for areas surrounding LI, but not the island itself. In the New York Metro area the heat index value are forecast to reach 105 degrees on Thursday and 110 degrees on Friday.
“LIPA is in good shape to meet the electrical demands during this heat storm,” LIPA COO Michael Harvey said in a statement. “However, we remind our customers to use energy wisely over the next few days to help keep their energy bills down.”
The Nassau County Department of Health said residents should spend time in places with air conditioners, drink more water, take cool baths and refrain from physical activity.
Symptoms of heat-related illnesses may include: headache, dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and low pulse rate, according to the department of health. Other symptoms may include cold pale and clammy skin or hot, flushed dry skin.
The heat wave sweeping through the country may have contributed to 13 deaths in the Midwest. Sixteen states across the Midwest saw the heat index exceed 100 degrees in various cities.
The list of Nassau cooling stations is below (Suffolk County officials did not return calls for comment):
Town of Hempstead Locations:
Expected Hours of Operation: Wednesday-Friday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., unless specified otherwise.
Baldwin Senior Center, 1810 N. Grand Ave., Baldwin, (516) 546-7110
Bellmore Senior Center, 2000 Bellmore Ave., Bellmore, (516) 221-9696
Cedarhurst Senior Center, 200 Cedarhurst Ave., Cedarhurst (516) 295-1177 (Open until 4:30 p.m.)
East Meadow Senior Center, 1485 Front Street, East Meadow, (516) 794-2458 (Open until 4:45 p.m.)
Elmont Senior Center, 138 Elmont Rd., Elmont, (516) 354-4777
Franklin Square Senior Center, 1182 Martha Pl. Franklin Square, (516) 328-3010
Green Acres Senior Center, 400 Flower Rd., Valley Stream, (516) 872-8810
Levittown Senior Center, 555 N. Newbridge Rd., Levittown, (516) 433-5454
Merrick Senior Center, 2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick, (516) 868-4777 (Open until 4:45 p.m.)
Oceanside Senior Center, 2900 Rockaway Ave., Oceanside, (516) 766-8888
Rosa Parks Senior Center, 2 Babylon Tpke., Roosevelt (516) 867-1612
Salisbury Senior Center, 460 Salisbury Park Drive, Westbury, (516) 333-5440
Uniondale-Hempstead Senior Center, 840 Uniondale Ave., Uniondale (516) 292-1313
Uniondale-Merrick Senior Center, 750 Jerusalem Ave., Uniondale (516) 538-5050
Freeport Location:
The Salvation Army, 66 Church Street, (516) 378-4557
(Open Wednesday/Thursday/Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Rockville Centre Locations:
The Leonard S. Sandel Senior Center, 50 South Park Avenue, (516) 678-9350
(Open Thursday & Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
The Anderson Recreation Center, 111 Oceanside Road (516) 678-9238
(Open Thursday/Friday/Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Town of Oyster Bay Locations:
William P. Bennett Hicksville Community Center, 28 Carl Street, Hicksville (516) 797-7900
(Open Thursday/Friday/Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Town of North Hempstead Locations:
Clinton G. Martin Park, Marcus Avenue & New Hyde Park Rd., New Hyde Park, (516) 869-6311
(Open Thursday & Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
Charles J. Fuschillo Park, Carle Road at Broadmoor Lane, Carle Place, (516) 869-6311
(Open Thursday & Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.)