New York will be full of sizzling sidewalks and sweaty subways as the first major summer heat wave hits the region this week.
According to the National Weather Service, the sweltering temperatures are forecast to begin on Tuesday and Wednesday and will converge with intense humidity to make it feel almost 100 degrees outside.
The heat will peak on Thursday and Friday, with “real-feel” temperatures potentially climbing to 104 degrees in some areas.
NWS has issued heat advisories for Northeastern New Jersey, most of the Lower Hudson Valley and Connecticut’s Northern Fairfield and New Haven counties. Heat advisories will likely be extended into New York City and Southern Connecticut later this week, the agency said.
“It’s Thursday and Friday when this heat wave impacts the city,” said NWS meteorologist David Stark. “We’re going to be seeing highs and lows around 93 to 97. The warmest of those two days is going to be Friday, where it looks like we might get close to 96 and 97 in Manhattan.”
While oceanfront neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens will generally keep cooler than other parts of the city, Stark said temperatures in those areas will still reach the lower 90s.
“Three consecutive days is what we consider an official heat wave, and we’re looking at at least four,” he said.
Saturday and Sunday will begin to offer some relief, as overall air temperatures drop to the upper 80s, according to Stark. A slight chance of a storm on Friday night and a frontal system approaching from the Northwest are anticipated to bring the temperatures down.
Over the weekend, Mayor Eric Adams said New Yorkers should prepare for the expected heat wave. He is set to give a briefing on the forecast and city’s preparations on Monday morning.
The city’s Emergency Management agency has a list of resources New Yorkers can use to stay safe during extreme heat. Heat-related illness kills an estimated 350 people in New York City each summer, and the number of deaths is rising due to climate change and lack of access to home air conditioners, according to officials.
You can find your local cooling center here. The city Parks Department also has a map of places to keep cool, including pools, spray showers and parks with thick tree coverage.
Meteorologist Stark’s advice: Drink water, stay inside in air conditioning if possible, check on sick or older neighbors without AC and never leave pets unattended in cars.
“Just limit outdoor strenuous activity as much as possible and stay hydrated,” he said.
This is a developing story and may be updated.