Beachgoers Feeling the Heat at West Meadow Beach

The playgrounds were deserted, the parking was ample, and the most crowded spot was the low-tide sand flat early Tuesday afternoon: sure signs it just might be too hot out to enjoy West Meadow Beach.

"It's quiet here," said Annie, of Selden, who lounged in a spacious spot with daughter Emily, 8. "There are so many beaches where there's too many people."

Centereach resident Ann agreed, saying: "It's hot. Judging by the amount of people here, I'd say they're afraid of it and staying inside."

Few sandcastles and beach umbrellas dotted the beach. According to one lifeguard, the water was in the low 70s.

"We like it to a point. In fact, we're going to have lunch and leave," said Genie and Charlie, Three Village residents for 45 years, who noted at around 12:30 p.m. that it wasn't crowded at all on the beach.

But not everyone was deterred by the hot temperatures, which could reach record highs this afternoon in our area.

Jennifer Van Ginhoven of Stony Brook, summed it up like this: "The heat can't stop us."

She was hanging out with daughter Riley and several other moms and kids as part of a Three Village Moms Meetup.com hangout.

Sunscreen "is a constant conversation," said another mom, Danielle Butler of Port Jefferson.

Low tide was the draw for Courtney Zarzycki, visiting Setauket from Rocky Point with daughters Madelynn and Sarah.

"This is nice," she said. "It gets us out to do something other than staying inside and playing video games."