Possibly deadly heat wave to hit NYC: How hot will it get? When will it end?

Scorching weather along with high humidity is coming to New York City starting Thursday, with the city under a heat warning and “feels like” temperatures of over 100 degrees forecast in the coming days.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for the city, effective from Thursday at 11 a.m. until Friday at 9 p.m., though that could be extended.

The city will bake with heat indices predicted to rise to over 105 degrees on both Thursday and Friday, with no relief from the potentially dangerous heat wave until Sunday.

“That’s serious heat, so don’t underestimate it,” Mayor Eric Adams said Wednesday.

Heat can have deadly health impacts, especially on older adults and those with chronic health conditions. On average, over 100 people suffer heat-related deaths in New York City every year.

Gov. Kathy Hochul warned New Yorkers to take precautions on Wednesday.

“This is extreme even for some of the parts of our country where we’re seeing these numbers, but for New York State, this is highly unusual,” Hochul said. “And at this time, we’re putting out heat advisories that’ll be in effect all the way through Friday night.”

In an unrelated press conference on Wednesday, Adams said the heat advisory would likely be extended through Saturday as the scorching heat continues.

To help mitigate the heat wave, Adams said the city would be opening 500 cooling centers across the five boroughs starting Thursday. People can seek relief from the heat in air-conditioned public spaces until they’re expected to close on Saturday.

The city’s list of open cooling centers will be online starting Wednesday evening. New Yorkers can also call 311 to find a center nearby.

“Make sure to check on your elderly neighbors or those dealing with breathing conditions so that we can look out of each other, and if you must be outside, take breaks, stay in the shade,” Adams advised.

The temperatures will start rising Thursday, with heat hanging in the 90s. The heat index value, which uses relative humidity to calculate how hot it feels outside, may rise to as high as 108, Mayor Adams said.

Breaking News

As it happens

Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts.

Cool winds will eventually push the heat down to more seasonal temperatures in the low 80s, but not until Sunday.

Experts say it’s best to stay indoors with air conditioning, drink lots of water and wear lightweight clothing and sunscreen if you have to go outdoors to avoid any heat-related illness like heatstroke.

The heat is especially dangerous to older adults and people with pre-existing conditions including heart disease, lung disease, substance or alcohol abuse and mental health conditions.

The last three weeks have been the hottest on the planet, and scientists warn of climate change’s impact making heat saves more and more common.

A spokesperson for the public schools did not answer a question about how far in advance the city would alert parents and teachers if they need to cancel programs due to the heat.

“There are currently no plans to close schools,” said the spokeswoman, Jenna Lyle.

With Cayla Bamberger