Commuters battled the heat and dealt with an air-quality health advisory after rain moved through parts of the city Tuesday morning.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation issued the advisory for the New York City metro area and lower Hudson Valley regions.

The city asked New Yorkers to take mass transit or carpool in an effort to reduce pollution. Automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of the pollution in New York, according to some estimates.

Brooklyn residents flocked to area beaches to deal with the heat. Beachgoers at Coney Island said it's important to stay cool and drink plenty of water.

The hot weather also did not stop residents from enjoying the sunshine in Canarsie Park or East Flatbush. Many residents, however, said they chose to spend the day inside or take breaks in the shade.

New Yorkers were asked to cut back on the use of appliances amid the scorcher. The DEC said lights and appliances should be turned off when they are no longer needed and window shades should be closed to limit the buildup of heat inside homes. The agency also recommended that air conditioners be set no lower than 78 degrees.

The humidity was expected to climb even higher on Wednesday.