The National Weather Service meteorologist Faye Marrone stated that the temperature in New York City on Friday around noon will reach dangerous levels, fortunately the extreme heat will only last for a day.
“This is usually the hottest time of the year for us, but it’s quite unusual to have heat index values over 100 degrees,” she said.
She also mentioned that after the midday heatwave, there might be severe thunderstorms which could bring a cold front, leading to cooler temperatures for the weekend, with temperatures expected to hover in the 80s on Saturday and Sunday.
The New York City emergency management agency has announced plans to activate a heat emergency program, including providing cooling centers for those who cannot access air conditioning, enhancing assistance for the city’s homeless population by helping them find shelters and cooler environments.
According to the agency’s data, more than 500 New Yorkers die from preventable heat-related illnesses every year.
A previous heatwave in the city this summer resulted in a surge in emergency room visits, with some hospitals experiencing air conditioning failures, leading to many patients suffering from minor illnesses, dehydration, and some even from heatstroke.
(Adapted from a report by Gothamist)