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Summer starts Friday night, but New York City is already sweating through a preview. A heat wave is barreling in with highs expected to reach the 90s by Sunday and soar toward 100 degrees early next week. According to the National Weather Service, we’re entering the city’s first prolonged stretch of hot, humid weather this year—and it's going to be oppressive.
While Friday offers a brief reprieve with slightly lower humidity and highs around 85, the cooldown won’t last. Saturday brings the heat back in full force with temperatures nearing 90, and by Sunday, the real fun begins. Heat indices (the “feels like” temperatures) could top 100 degrees in some parts of the city, NWS meteorologist Dave Radell told Gothamist. The combination of sweltering air, high humidity and intense sunshine will make even shady stoops feel like ovens.
Forecasters expect highs in the mid-90s by Monday, with Tuesday shaping up to be the peak of possibly 95 degrees or more. Nights won’t offer much relief either. Thanks to the heat dome parked over the region, temperatures are expected to hover in the 70s overnight, making it hard to cool down without air conditioning.
City officials haven’t activated the full heat emergency plan yet, but cooling centers will be open during regular hours across all five boroughs. Libraries, community centers and older adult centers offer air-conditioned relief, especially crucial for anyone who’s "energy insecure," a term that applies to nearly one-third of New Yorkers, according to a recent report by City Comptroller Brad Lander.
Don’t wait for an emergency alert to take precautions. Health officials recommend staying indoors during the hottest part of the day—usually between noon and 6 pm—wearing light, loose clothing, drinking plenty of water and avoiding caffeine and alcohol. Symptoms of heat-related illness include heavy sweating, light-headedness, nausea, muscle cramps and fatigue. If it feels like too much, it probably is. Call 911 if someone seems disoriented or faint.
And don’t forget about the other living beings suffering through this: your pets. Keep them indoors, off the hot pavement and hydrated. If you wouldn’t walk barefoot on the sidewalk, they shouldn’t either.
A hot weekend in the city is a classic, but this one will be no joke. Stay safe, New York!