The city is set to swelter with brutal heat Friday, potentially feeling as hot as 105 degrees.
The good news is that the extreme heat will only last one day, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Faye Marrone. She said temperatures will peak at dangerous levels around midday Friday.
“ This is typically our hottest time of the year,” Marrone said. “Although, obviously, heat index values over 100 degrees are a bit unusual.”
The meteorologist said that after those midday highs, the heat has the potential to bring severe thunderstorms.
”We'll have to refine that more as we go into the day,” Marrone said.
The storms would then bring with them a cold front that should help cool the city as it goes into the weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, air temperatures are expected to hover in the mid-80s.
Marrone recommends being smart and respecting the conditions outside on Friday.
“ Drink plenty of water,” she said. “If you have air conditioning, use it. If you don't and can find an air-conditioned place to go to, that’s certainly good advice.”
The city’s emergency management agency said it plans to activate its heat emergency plan, which includes making cooling centers available for those without access to air conditioning.
During heat emergencies, the city also steps up its outreach efforts to homeless New Yorkers, including helping them access shelter and cooler environments.
Heat-related ER visits spiked in the city earlier this summer, though some hospitals struggled to keep patients cool as their air conditioners failed. Many of the patients showed up with mild illness and dehydration, but others suffered heat stroke.
Preventable heat illness kills more than 500 New Yorkers a year, according to the emergency management agency. A report by city Comptroller Brad Lander this year warned that rising energy costs and hotter temperatures from climate change threaten to make the situation worse, with 30% of New Yorkers unable to meet their energy needs.
During extreme heat situations, officials also urge being prepared for potential blackouts, including by having supplies on hand and notifying utility companies about any life-sustaining, electric-powered medical equipment, such as respirators or dialysis machines. Utility companies can then contact registered customers in emergencies to assist.
Health experts urge those looking to exercise outside during the heat to drink more water than usual, and even better, take the day off from exertion and training to avoid injury and acute illness.
