New York City this week is staring down its first heat wave of the summer, defined by three or more consecutive days of temperatures reaching or exceeding 90 degrees.
Temperatures are expected to reach the mid- to high-90s Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with temperatures potentially reaching as high as 105 degrees on Friday in some parts of the city, according to the National Weather Service.
High temperatures can kill New Yorkers who aren’t prepared, especially elderly people or those with underlying health conditions. City data shows there’s been an average of seven “heat-stress” deaths caused directly by heat every year for the last decade — and that a June heatwave last year killed 19 people.
New York City agencies are coordinating a response to the extreme weather later this week as the forecast becomes clearer. Officials at the city’s health department stressed the importance of indoor cooling units, noting that most people who died from heat stress were exposed to heat in their homes.
The heat arrives as the city prepares to be flooded with tourists. MetLife Stadium hosts two World Cup matches this week, on June 30 and July 5, and hundreds of tall ships will be storming the Hudson to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary on the Fourth of July.
The city is activating ‘cooling centers’
The city has hundreds of cooling centers across the five boroughs open to the public on high heat days for those seeking respite. Office of Emergency Management spokesperson Alexia Nizhny said the city will be expanding the amount it's activating to help accommodate for the larger events.
“We're making sure staff and volunteers working these events have the resources they need to stay safe in the heat, including providing safety guidance, water, cooling towels, and reminders to take frequent indoor breaks when possible and watch for signs of heat stress,” Nizhny said in an email.
You can find the nearest cooling center on this map, which includes facilities like local public libraries, older adult centers and local businesses.
Most cooling centers are open all day and some close as late as 11 p.m.
The city also urges New Yorkers that if going to a cooling center isn’t a viable option, they should go to a friend’s place, a mall, museum or coffee shop that has air conditioning.
Health department: Go outside if it's too warm indoors
Spending time outdoors on a hot summer day can be safer than staying inside where it isn’t cool or there isn’t any working air conditioning, according to the emergency management office.
New Yorkers should take these steps if they choose to be outside during the hottest days of the week: Take it easy and avoid serious physical activity, drink water consistently even if you’re not thirsty, stay in the shade and wear light and loose-fitting clothing.
To take even further precautions while outside, city health officials also suggested wearing a hat, and avoiding drinks with alcohol, sugar or caffeine.
The city also offers another map to help navigate outdoor public facilities to stay cool. New Yorkers can find outdoor pools, “spray showers” for kids to play with and public drinking fountains. The map also colors in blocks with a high concentration of trees and parks that have large “tree canopies” that are the most shaded areas.
What else the city is doing
Heatwaves can put both a strain on the city’s water supply and electrical grids. New Yorkers are more likely to run AC units all day and open up their block’s fire hydrants for water.
In order to prevent a power outage, the city says AC units should be set at around 78 degrees to not cause a serious strain on the grid. For the water supply, FDNY and Department of Environmental Protection staff may distribute “hydrant spray caps” on fire hydrants to conserve water.
The city will also install spray caps on fire hydrants sitting on Department of Transportation “open streets” — where roads are closed off for pedestrians — that have dense tree canopy coverage to keep those blocks cool as well.
