New York City officials on Monday activated a Heat Emergency Plan, a coordinated interagency response to ready for historically high heat that will begin on Wednesday.
Daytime temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 90s and nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit beginning Wednesday, with heat index values ranging from 100 to 105 degrees. By Thursday, daytime temperatures are expected to be around 100 degrees with heat index values between 103 to 108 degrees. Triple-digit heat index values are expected to persist through Saturday, July 4. If the forecast holds, Thursday would be the first 100-degree day recorded in Central Park since July 18, 2012.
In addition to opening cooling centers across the five boroughs, the city will also operate cooling vans, or Cooling Outreach On-Location, which will provide wellness checks, medical care, water and other supplies such as electrolytes and sunscreen, as well as transport to cooling centers or healthcare facilities. COOL vans will also be dispatched to perform in-home wellness checks on older adults. More than a dozen vans will be operational Wednesday, officials said.
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will operate Health Action Centers and Overdose Prevention Centers as cooling centers and will expand pop-up cooling stations through partnerships with community-based organizations with cold water, misting fans and cooling towels for outdoor workers including street vendors, deliveristas and day laborers working in the heat.
More than 2,200 LinkNYC Kiosks will display real-time walking directions to the nearest cooling center, while the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection will message all of its licensees — about 45,000 businesses across 45 different business categories— encouraging heat illness plans, warning about the dangers of extreme heat and signs of heat exhaustion and reminding employees that they can use protected time off for heat-related emergencies.
“We’re staring down what could be the second hottest day in New York City history in over a decade — and city government is taking historic measures to keep all New Yorkers indoors, cool and safe,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement. “But we need every New Yorker to take this deadly heat seriously. Stay inside, look out for your neighbors, drink plenty of water and watch out for signs of heat exhaustion such as confusion, nausea and trouble breathing."
New Yorkers are urged to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity during peak heat hours and seek air-conditioned spaces whenever possible. Residents should check on vulnerable neighbors — especially older adults, people with disabilities and people with chronic illnesses — and loved ones, recognize the warning signs of heat illness and help others who may be at greater risk. Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know has hot dry skin, trouble breathing, rapid heartbeat, confusion, disorientation, dizziness, nausea or vomiting. Never leave children, adults or pets in cars.
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