How to Stay Cool in New York City During Extreme Heat
Officials are urging New Yorkers to find safe and reliable ways to stay cool over the next few days while the city is expected to face dangerously high temperatures.
New York City is expected to see temperatures in the low- to mid-nineties on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service, and the heat index is predicted to reach temperatures up to 106 degrees. For the first time in nearly two years, the National Weather Service issued an extreme heat advisory for New York City from 11 a.m. on Thursday to 9 p.m. on Friday.
During a news conference on Thursday morning, Mayor Eric Adams said: “Heat kills more New Yorkers every year than any other kind of extreme weather event. Access to cooling is a matter of life and death.”
Where to Beat the Heat
City officials encouraged New Yorkers to seek out public swimming pools, drinking fountains, splash pads and shady parks.
Most city pools open at 11 a.m., and Mayor Adams said they would be open an additional hour, — until 8 p.m. — on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Individuals without access to air-conditioning in their homes or who are experiencing a power outage were urged to take advantage of the dozens of cooling centers located throughout the city. To find the closest cooling center, residents can search their address on the city website or call 311. There is also a map of cooling center locations.
To confirm a cooling center’s hours, Zach Iscol, the city’s emergency management commissioner, recommended calling the location ahead of time. Mayor Adams said the city was also partnering with Petco to provide cooling centers for pets. He noted that air-conditioning was also typically available at movie theaters, museums and malls.
Here is a partial list of cooling centers across the city:
Manhattan
Hudson Park Library
96th Street Library
George Bruce Library
St. Agnes Library
Battery Park City Library
Brooklyn
Greenpoint Library
Bedford Temple Corps Community Center
Albany Older Adults Center (Older adults only)
Ridgewood Bushwick Older Adults Center (Older adults only)
Herbert Von King Cultural Arts Center
Bronx
Morris Park Library
East Side House Borinquen Court Mitchel Older Adults Center (Older adults only)
Bronx Center Library
Spuyten Duyvil Library
Throg’s Neck Library
Queens
Tzu Chi Foundation
Forest Hills Library
HANAC Harmony JVL Innovative Senior Center
Jamaica Citadel Corps Community Center
Petco Jackson Heights (Pet friendly)
Staten Island
West New Brighton Library
Tottenville Library
Todt Hill Older Adult Center
Great Kills Library
St. George Center Library
Energy conservation
To conserve energy and avoid power outages, Mr. Iscol urged New Yorkers take a “balanced approach to energy usage” over the next few days. Officials said residents should turn lights off when they were not necessary and postpone the use of appliances that use a lot of energy like laundry machines. Air-conditioners, officials said, should be set to 78 degrees or the lowest possible setting.
“Although air-conditioning is a critical tool in this heat battle, it doesn’t need to be operating at maximum capacity,” Mr. Iscol said. He said 78 degrees was an appropriate temperature for “maintaining your comfort while also ensuring energy consumption for the entire city remains sustainable.”
Matthew Ketschke, the president of Con Edison, warned that the increased use of air-conditioners during periods of extreme heat could lead to power outages, which can be deadly, especially for infants, seniors, pregnant people and those with certain risk factors.
New Yorkers should not, however, risk their health, said Dr. Ashwin Vasan, commissioner of the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Dr. Vasan encouraged residents to seek medical attention if they exhibit signs of heat stroke, which can include hot, dry skin; cold, clammy skin; confusion or disorientation; nausea or vomiting; trouble breathing; rapid heartbeat; or weakness and dizziness.