The tristate area is bracing for potentially severe thunderstorms and damaging winds Wednesday as temperatures once again rise following a brief reprieve from last week’s heat wave.
After the heat broke on Monday, the forecast called for another two days of excessive heat reaching above 90 degrees, with much of central and coastal New Jersey under a heat advisory.
However, the region is now facing severe thunderstorms and high winds that could hit late Wednesday afternoon during rush hour.
Forecasters warn the storms could likely bring heavy rain fall, localized flooding and even some hail to New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and along the Metro-North lines. A high rip current risk is in effect along the South Shore of Long Island.
The weather is expected to clear by Thursday, bringing clearer skies, lower humidity and temperatures in the mid-80s before a sunny and pleasant weekend.
According to the New York City Health Department, around 350 people die each year in the city due to prolonged hot weather, the vast majority of which lack air conditioning in their homes and have underlying conditions exacerbated by the heat.
“Climate change is making our summers hotter and more deadly,” Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan said last week. “The risks to our planet present risks to our health, in part, because heat is the deadliest of all extreme weather events in the United States and in New York City. As a city we are stepping up our work to keep New Yorkers safe during these events. And the things we do to promote sustainability as a city, a country and as individuals can be life-saving.”