Riverhead residents, workers try to stay cool as heat advisory remains in effect through Thursday
Driving home from an overnight stay on Shelter Island, Liz and Mark Perrone of St. James had a very important stop to make Wednesday.
In the midst of a heat wave, their destination was one where they’d find plenty of company in such weather: Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe in Riverhead.
“This is brutal,” Mr. Perrone said.
Across the North Fork, workers, residents and visitors alike were searching for ways to stay cool as the heat index nearly eclipsed triple digits at 99 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Ultimate relief is still more than 24 hours away. While the high temperature reached 92 degrees Wednesday, the NWS is projecting only slightly milder temperatures at about 88 degrees Thursday with a heat index of 95.
The heat advisory issued for Wednesday will remain in effect through 8 p.m. Thursday. An air quality alert is also active for Suffolk County through 11 p.m. Wednesday, according to the NWS.
Ali Schneider is 11, but he’d like you to know he’ll be 12 on Friday. He beat the heat on Wednesday with his fellow campers at Quogue Wildlife Refuge by grabbing a scoop at Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe. (Credit: Brianne Ledda) 
The Randall family gathered at a playground in the shade near Grangabel Park. (Credit: Brianne Ledda) 
Richard Fusaro took advantage of the sun on Wednesday by biking to Grangabel Park with his guitar. (Credit: Brianne Ledda) 
Riverhead Free Library hosted a water fight for some younger patrons during the heat on Wednesday. (Courtesy Photo) 
James, 3, and Emma, 4, play in the water at Reeves Beach in Riverhead during a July heat wave. (Credit: Brianne Ledda) 
Charlize and Eli, both 6, run along the shore at Reeves beach. Even though temperatures were in the mid-90s, the heat wasn’t so bad, one of their mothers commented. (Credit: Brianne Ledda) 
Liz and Mark Perrone stopped for ice cream in Riverhead on their way home from an overnight stay on Shelter Island. The heat on Wednesday was “brutal,” Mark said. (Credit: Brianne Ledda) 
A man naps in the shade at Grangabel Park on Wednesday. (Credit: Brianne Ledda)
For some on the North Fork, the heat was a good excuse to go to the beach or to eat ice cream. For others it meant keeping plans to visit a park or farm stand.
While both Riverhead and Southold towns opened up cooling centers, they were empty Wednesday afternoon.
Guests of Tanger Outlet Center were able to hide out in air conditioned stores, but for 30 minutes a little after 1 p.m. Wednesday the retail destination suffered an outage, according to PSEG-Long Island.
While the heat advisory ends Thursday evening, temperatures are expected to remain in the upper 80s and into the 90s through the weekend.
