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It's Getting Hot In Herre (So Hot), So New Yorkers Should Take Precautions This Weekend
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jul 17, 2020
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Jul 17, 2020
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New York City is in for one of its hottest weekends of the summer so far, with temperatures expected to hit in the mid-90s Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and the heat index is expected to be above 100. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook from Friday through Wednesday as a result, and considering we're still in the midst of a pandemic, with more people staying in front of their air conditioners, this could put a strain on the power grid.
"Forecasts are calling for a wave of extreme heat in the coming days and I am urging all New Yorkers to make sure they are taking all necessary precautions," Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement**.** "This type of weather can be especially dangerous for young children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions. Be sure to check on neighbors and limit outdoor activity to ensure that you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy through the extreme temperatures. And if you do visit beaches and pools, be sure to wear a mask and practice social distancing."
On July 1st, the city officially reopened all of NYC's beaches for swimming, floating, sunbathing, lingering and everything in-between. Prior to that, swimming was not permitted, and Mayor Bill de Blasio had sent mixed messages about what was allowed before lifeguards returned. As of now, you're allowed to swim from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. when lifeguards are on duty; you will still be expected to socially distance from fellow beach-goers and wear face coverings when they're not in the water. Click the links to find more information about city and state beaches and parks.
Public pools will not begin reopening until next weekend; the first three open on July 24th, then by August 1st, 15 of the biggest ones will be open around the city. On the plus side, you can watch the video below.
And last week, the mayor announced that the city would open 145 cooling centers—free-to-use, indoor, air conditioned spaces—as well as 130 misting locations, 650 spray showers in parks, 300 hydrants and 14 cool streets in anticipation of weather like this. You can get more information about the cooling centers here.
“It is going to be a hot summer and that is going to come with its own host of challenges,” de Blasio said. “Our job, of course, is to keep New Yorkers cool, keep New Yorkers safe.”
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Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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