As the region heads into the second day of heat and air quality issues, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in New York City has issued an Air Quality Alert for the southern half of Connecticut.on its Facebook page Monday morning. That announcement covers the entire western half of Connecticut and a large part of eastern New York.Heat Wave Safety Tips

The alert went into effect at 10 am Monday, June 12, and will remain in effect for 12 hours. It covers Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven and New London Counties.

The National Weather Service is expecting "widespread 90 degree-plus temperatures today. The second day of heat and increasing Humidity, plus air quality issues," the New York City office posted

The temperature at Danbury Municipal Airport at 9:44 am Monday, June 12, was 80 degrees, with 56 percent humidity and a Heat Index of 81 degrees. Wunderground.com, a commercial weather service that provides real-time information via the internet, was reporting a temperature of 87.4° F for Newtown at 10:21 am Monday. Wunderground also said that Newtown on Monday would feel even warmer than Sunday, which had reached a high of 89.8° F.

For Newtown specifically, today's forecast from NWS is calling for a sunny day with a high near 91 degrees, and southwest wind of 5-9 mph. The overnight will be mostly clear, with a low around 68 and west wind of 3 to 7 mph, again according to the weather service.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has issued an air quality action day - meaning ozone within the affected region may "approach or exceed unhealthy standards" - for the southern counties of the states for Monday.

Wunderground.com posted Monday morning that the day's Air Quality Index would post Moderate issues for those with allergies.

Tuesday, June 13, is seeing "a 30 percent of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind 6 to 8 mph." The chance for showers and thunderstorms drops to 20 percent for Tuesday's overnight. NWS is saying Tuesday overnight will be "mostly cloudy, with a low around 63."

If the predicted rain and/or storms do move through the area on Tuesday, the weather service is expecting temperatures to reach only into the high 70s during the day, and then drop to an overnight low of around 51 degrees.

Wunderground posted on Monday that the day's UV index was Very High, meaning there is a "very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Limit sun exposure to 8-22 minutes. Apply sun protection factor (SPF) 30+, wear protective clothing (hat and UV-A&B sunglasses), and make attempts to avoid the sun between 10 am to 4 pm."

The weather service defines a heat wave as at least three consecutive days with high temperatures of at least 90 days. A heat index is an estimate of how hot it feels when air temperature and humidity are defined.

A Heat Advisory is issued when the heat index is forecast to reach 95-99°F for at least two consecutive days or 100°-100°F for any length of time. At 10:10 Monday morning, when Wunderground was reporting 87.4° temperatures outside, the heat index had already reached 92°.

An Excessive Heat Warning is issued when heat index values are forecast to reach or exceed 105° F for at least two consecutive hours.

Should the region move into its first heat wave of the season, the following suggestions are offered by NWS:

*Slow down.

Strenuous activities should be reduced, eliminated, or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day. Individuals at risk should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.

*Dress for summer. Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures.

*Foods (like proteins) that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.

*Drink plenty of water or nonalcoholic fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don't feel thirsty.

*Do not drink alcoholic beverages.

*Spend more time in air-conditioned places. Air conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduces danger from the heat. If you cannot afford an air conditioner, spending some time each day (during hot weather) in an air-conditioned environment affords some protection.

*Never leave persons, especially children, and pets in a closed, parked vehicle

*Don't get too much sun. Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation that much more difficult.

Heat waves, according to NWS, are a "good time to reduce outdoor activity if possible, and increase fluid intake, especially water."