The dog days of summer will make New Yorkers sweat this weekend.
The National Weather Service is extending its heat advisory for the New York City area, which it issued after temperatures reached the 90s on Thursday and Friday, into Saturday. After Saturday, relief from scorching days isn’t on its way. The forecast for the Big Apple predicts that temperatures of 90 degrees or higher will continue through Tuesday.
“Always take heat advisories seriously,” said Brian Ciemnecki, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “You want to stay hydrated and stay in an air conditioned location.”
Humidity will also be very high, reaching 70% or higher for the next few days. High humidity is dangerous because it can interfere with the body’s ability to cool down and sweat.
“It’s going to be very stuffy,” Ciemnecki said. ”It’s going to be very, very, very sticky, very moist through Sunday.”
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service said New York City may not feel relief until Wednesday or Thursday, when temperatures are predicted to fall to the 80s.
There is also a severe thunderstorm watch in effect until 9 p.m. Friday, which could bring a quarter-inch of rainfall and wind gusts as high as 60 mph. There is a chance of rain and thunderstorms through Tuesday.
“Any time you have hot and humid conditions, stay cool and hydrate,” Ciemnecki said. “If you don’t have air conditioning, you want to go to the cooling centers.”
New York City’s more than 500 cooling centers are open.
According to the city’s health department, about 500 New Yorkers die from heat-related deaths every summer.