New York City is under an extreme heat warning starting Wednesday, July 1, with temperatures expected to reach 100°F on Thursday and Friday – the first time Central Park has recorded that temperature since July 2012, according to El Diario. This is the city’s most intense heat event in 14 years.
Humidity will push the heat index – the “feels like” temperature – into the range of 105 to 110°F. NBC News calls those conditions “dangerous, and potentially deadly” for anyone outdoors for extended periods or doing strenuous activity. The heat wave hits as millions gather in the city for the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations over the July 4th weekend.
The extreme heat is also expected to degrade air quality. High temperatures drive ground-level ozone formation, creating smog, El Diario reported. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has two air quality hotlines available: 1-800-535-1345 and 1-518-402-8478.
Con Ed warns that the citywide surge in air conditioning demand raises the risk of outages and electrical fires. Bushwick Daily reported last month on Con Ed’s North Brooklyn grid upgrade and the rate increase passed on to customers. Con Ed asks residents to avoid running large appliances – washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and microwaves among them – between 2 and 10 p.m., and to use only one large appliance at a time. Households with multiple AC units should use only one if possible and turn units off when no one is home.
The city has more than 500 cooling centers across the five boroughs, El Diario reported. To find the nearest location, including hours and eligibility requirements – some centers serve seniors only – call 311. Public pools in all five boroughs are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a one-hour sanitation closure from 3 to 4 p.m. 3 p.m. is typically the day’s peak temperature, El Diario notes.
FDNY warns residents never to leave children or pets in parked cars. The American Academy of Pediatrics says a car’s interior can rise 40°F within a single hour when the outside temperature is around 70°F, with most of the increase happening in the first 15 to 30 minutes. No amount of shade protects children in those conditions, FDNY says. Fire hydrants can only be opened by FDNY personnel.
Residents can track forecasts through the National Weather Service New York and sign up with Notify NYC for real-time weather alerts. The city’s severe weather portal is available at nyc.gov/snow, or call 311.
Featured image: Bushwick Daily image
