New York City is forecast to top 100°F this week, potentially making it the hottest stretch in parts of the city since 2012. With humidity, the heat index could climb to 110°F, prompting an Extreme Heat Warning and a multi-day watch over the Fourth of July wee
By Wednesday, New York City could be living in temperatures it hasn’t seen in more than a decade.
Forecasters say the heat this week is expected to surpass 100 degrees Fahrenheit (around 38 degrees Celsius)—a level that could break records for the hottest temperatures seen in parts of the city since 2012. With added humidity, conditions could feel more like 110 degrees F (around 43 degrees C), according to the National Weather Service.
James Connolly, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, called it “a significant heatwave that people should take seriously, because it’s going to be very hot for an extended period of time.”
The number on the thermometer may not be the whole story. The heat index—how hot it feels to the body—may reach 105 degrees F (more than 40 degrees C) this week and could rise to 110 degrees F (43 degrees C). That expectation has led the National Weather Service to issue an “Extreme Heat Warning” for Wednesday and an “Extreme Heat Watch” for Wednesday night through Saturday.
Connolly explained that a “warning” means forecasters can predict the weather with higher confidence, similar in spirit to winter storm warnings and tornado watches.
In Manhattan. the historical benchmark sits in Central Park. where the National Weather Service has collected weather data for the city. Temperatures there haven’t surpassed 100 degrees F since 2012. The hottest day ever recorded in the park was 106 degrees F, or more than 41 degrees C, on July 9, 1936.
The heat isn’t confined to New York City. The extreme weather is being driven by climate change. Connolly said. and it’s tied to a mass of warm air currently centered over Kentucky moving east. That setup could push much of the East Coast to soaring temperatures this week: Philadelphia could reach 104 degrees F (40 degrees C). while Baltimore and Washington. D.C. could climb as high as 103 degrees F (39 degrees C).
Even once the calendar turns toward the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the threat doesn’t ease. “It’ll still remain hot. Right now, the question is, how hot it will be,” Connolly said.
For people planning to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Connolly’s advice is practical—and urgent. He recommended staying hydrated. hanging out in cool environments. wearing loose fitting clothing. and watching for signs of heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion. He also stressed that children and pets should never be left in cars.
“Be aware, and take this heatwave seriously.”
New York City heatwave 100 degrees Fahrenheit heat index Extreme Heat Warning climate change National Weather Service Central Park temperature record James Connolly