An air quality alert for northern New York, including St. Lawrence County, will continue through 11 p.m. tonight, the National Weather Service office in Burlington says.

The alert, relayed from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, warns of pollution in the form of elevated levels ozone that are typical in hot and humid conditions.

The alert covers all parts of the county, including the areas around Massena, Potsdam, Canton, Ogdensburg and Gouverneur, and other counties in the North Country.

When pollution levels are elevated, the state Department of Health recommends that people consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants, the DOH says, include the very young, and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease. Those with symptoms should consider seeking a physician’s advice.

Temperatures – and pollution levels – are forecast to moderate, with highs in the mid-80s Thursday and Friday, and only into the mid-60s on Saturday and Sunday.