A brutal NYC heat wave this week will feel like 104 degrees
Forecasts call for highs in the low to mid-90s, but thanks to humidity levels that rival a Bikram studio, it'll feel much hotter, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday. Factor in lingering smoke from Canadian wildfires, and you've got a one-two punch of gross air and oppressive heat that could put vulnerable New Yorkers at real risk.
'This is going to be a several-day event,' warned NWS meteorologist Matthew Wunsch. 'Take it easy, make sure you stay hydrated and things of that nature.' Solid advice, unless your A/C's out—at which point, the city has opened public cooling centers, including libraries, senior centers and community spaces across all five boroughs. For a full list, call 311 or check the NYC Cool Options Map.
City officials have also activated a heat emergency plan, which includes outreach to the homeless, energy conservation alerts and hydration reminders for, well, everyone. Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol put it bluntly: 'Prolonged heat like this is dangerous, especially for older adults, people with health conditions, and those without air conditioning.'
For the record, more than 500 New Yorkers die prematurely each year from heat-related illness, making extreme heat one of the city's deadliest weather threats, even more so than snow or hurricanes.
If you absolutely must be outside, experts advise sticking to the shade, wearing light clothing and avoiding alcohol or caffeine (sorry, iced coffee). And don't forget to check on elderly neighbors or anyone who might not have access to A/C.
Relief is expected late Wednesday as a cold front moves in, possibly bringing showers and a return to more reasonable temperatures in the low 80s by Thursday. Until then, NYC, stay cool—and if you're dripping in sweat by 9 am, just know: You're not alone.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
21 hours ago
- The Independent
What you need to know about derechos, an uncommon and destructive weather event
Prolonged wind events that unleash heavy rainfall and travel far distances sometimes qualify as derechos. Derechos can happen almost anywhere in the United States but are most common in the central and eastern regions of the country. Winds typically gust over 60 mph (97 kmh) and can cause damage comparable to tornadoes or hurricanes. Here's what you need to know about this uncommon form of extreme weather. What is a derecho? A derecho is a long-lived line of storms that often produces extreme wind damage, said Gino Izzi, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's office in Chicago. Derechos can last eight hours or longer and travel hundreds of miles (kilometers) across the country with winds typically gusting over 60 mph (97 kmh). 'There's been instances where derechos have moved from Iowa all the way to Washington, D.C.,' said Izzi. Because of the intense straight-line winds and vast distances a derecho can travel, the damage they cause is sometimes comparable to the destructive forces of tornadoes or hurricanes. Hurricanes are low-pressure systems that form over tropical or subtropical ocean waters and have organized thunderstorm activity, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Unstable air that is hot and humid is supportive of derecho formation. Derechos can happen any time of year, but July and early August are the prime time for this type of extreme weather, said Izzi. Derechos are an uncommon weather event and usually a small number occur each year, but Izzi said several years could pass without a recorded derecho. There are different types of derechos. Serial derechos tend to form with large, powerful storms and typically occur in early spring, fall and early winter. Progressive derechos are usually smaller and tend to form in summer as they feed off of hot, humid conditions. Hybrid derechos have characteristics of both serial and progressive types. Conditions that are favorable for derechos can also lead to small, embedded tornadoes, which are violently rotating columns of air that extend down from a thunderstorm and reach the ground. Derechos tend to produce much more widespread damage than tornadoes because they can produce a swath of damage that exceeds 100 miles (160 kilometers) in width, whereas the damage from violent tornadoes is typically less than a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide. Safety tips include using a radio to listen to the forecast, monitoring devices for severe weather alerts from the NWS and having access to a sturdy shelter. 'It can go from nice, calm weather to 100 miles per hour winds blowing down trees in literally a matter of minutes,' said Izzi. Where do derechos form? Derechos can happen almost anywhere in the U.S. but are most common in the central and eastern regions of the United States. Progressive derechos tend to favor the northern and central Plains eastward into the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley area. That is because domes of heat can form across central parts of the U.S. and derechos tend to form on the northern and northeastern flanks of the dome where there are high levels of atmospheric instability. This also tends to be where the jet stream winds are stronger. Humidity from crops like corn, also known as corn sweat, also magnifies how unstable the hot, humid air is. A 2003 derecho traveled from Arkansas through several southern states, including Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Two people died and 11 were hurt. A 2009 storm dubbed a Super Derecho by meteorologists traveled from western Kansas to eastern Kentucky. It caused several deaths and injuries and more than $500 million in damages by the time it had traveled more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers). A 2020 derecho that traveled from eastern Nebraska across Iowa and parts of Wisconsin and Illinois reached wind speeds of a major hurricane. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center reported winds approaching 100 mph (160 kph) in places. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, residents emerged from their homes to find an estimated 100,000 trees had been snapped or torn out of the ground. In December 2021, a derecho in the Great Plains and Upper Midwest spawned at least 45 tornadoes, caused widespread damage and killed at least five people. Derechos can cause flash flooding Derechos can be associated with a slow-moving or nearly stationary band of thunderstorms. This could potentially lead to heavy rainfall and flash floods that can cause significant damage. Flash floods associated with a derecho that occurred July 4-5, 1969, caused Killbuck Creek in Ohio to rise more than 20 feet (6 meters) above normal level and at least two dozen fatalities, according to NOAA. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
A brutal NYC heat wave this week will feel like 104 degrees
New York City is officially entering its main character in a heatwave era, as a three-day stretch of dangerous temps kicks off today, bringing real-feel temperatures as high as 104 degrees. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from 11 am today through 8 pm Wednesday—so if you were planning an afternoon jog or a midday dog walk, maybe… don't. Forecasts call for highs in the low to mid-90s, but thanks to humidity levels that rival a Bikram studio, it'll feel much hotter, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday. Factor in lingering smoke from Canadian wildfires, and you've got a one-two punch of gross air and oppressive heat that could put vulnerable New Yorkers at real risk. 'This is going to be a several-day event,' warned NWS meteorologist Matthew Wunsch. 'Take it easy, make sure you stay hydrated and things of that nature.' Solid advice, unless your A/C's out—at which point, the city has opened public cooling centers, including libraries, senior centers and community spaces across all five boroughs. For a full list, call 311 or check the NYC Cool Options Map. City officials have also activated a heat emergency plan, which includes outreach to the homeless, energy conservation alerts and hydration reminders for, well, everyone. Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol put it bluntly: 'Prolonged heat like this is dangerous, especially for older adults, people with health conditions, and those without air conditioning.' For the record, more than 500 New Yorkers die prematurely each year from heat-related illness, making extreme heat one of the city's deadliest weather threats, even more so than snow or hurricanes. If you absolutely must be outside, experts advise sticking to the shade, wearing light clothing and avoiding alcohol or caffeine (sorry, iced coffee). And don't forget to check on elderly neighbors or anyone who might not have access to A/C. Relief is expected late Wednesday as a cold front moves in, possibly bringing showers and a return to more reasonable temperatures in the low 80s by Thursday. Until then, NYC, stay cool—and if you're dripping in sweat by 9 am, just know: You're not alone.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Heat advisories and warnings issued for Southeast and Midwest as temperatures and humidity soars
It's always hot in the summer in the U.S. Southeast, but even by the standards of Florida and the Carolinas, the steamy heat wave on tap for the region Saturday into the coming week is a little extreme. The National Weather Service issued heat advisories for a large swath of the East Coast from central Florida to Virginia through much of the weekend. Highs in the upper 90s F (mid 30s C) were forecast for central Florida, with heat indexes reaching 105 degrees F to 110 degrees F (40.6 C to 43 C). The outlook was similar up through Georgia and the Carolinas into Virginia. Extreme heat warnings were out for much of eastern North Carolina, as far inland as Raleigh, and extending into a corner of South Carolina, including Myrtle Beach. Forecasters warned of dangerously hot conditions with temperatures approaching or exceeding 100 F (38 C) in some areas on Sunday and heat indexes up to 115 F through Sunday evening. 'Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. the weather service advised. "Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Stay cool, stay hydrated, stay informed.' The weather service said several major metropolitan areas in the Southeast — including Raleigh and Charlotte in North Carolina, Greenville-Spartanburg in South Carolina, and Atlanta in Georgia — were expected to face an extreme heat risk for several days, with minimal overnight relief. It said over 30 million people would likely be affected at the peak of the heat wave through midweek. A hot, humid weekend was also in store for the Midwest. Extreme heat watches were out for eastern Nebraska, western Iowa and southern Minnesota. Heat indexes were expected to reach 96 F (36 C) on Saturday and go even higher on Sunday in Minnesota. And an extreme heat warning was out for the St. Louis, Missouri, area through Tuesday evening, with highs around 99 F (37 C) and heat indexes around 110 F forecast for Monday and Tuesday. Parts of Iowa were hit by storms Saturday morning that dumped between 2 and 5 inches (5 to 13 centimeters) of rain in some areas and triggered flash flood warnings.
