Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYC, NJ report death toll from historic heat wave
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Jul 6, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Jul 6, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Three New Yorkers died in their homes from heat-related illness over the weekend, at the tail end of a historic heatwave, according to the mayor’s office. The heat wave lasted from Wednesday through Saturday, with temperatures peaking in the triple digits.
In New Jersey, state health officials reported a much higher death toll, estimating on Monday that 29 people across 10 counties had died as a result of the heat wave, ranging in age from their 30s to their 80s.
“Unfortunately, many of these individuals were found in homes without air conditioning,” NJ State Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard Washington said. “A few were outside their residences, some on the street and some even in parked cars.”
New York City officials did not provide any additional information on the New Yorkers who died or comment on whether the official death toll from the heat wave is expected to rise.
“Our hearts are with their families and loved ones,” said Joe Calvello, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office.
Extreme heat kills about 500 New Yorkers each year, according to city data. During last week’s heat wave, the Mamdani administration took steps to prevent heat-related illness and deaths, including opening libraries, senior centers and other locations as cooling centers, extending pool hours and conducting outreach to older adults and homeless New Yorkers, city officials said.
“This heat wave has passed, but the summer is far from over,” Calvello said. “We will remain vigilant and continue to protect New Yorkers from the growing threat of extreme heat and other severe weather.”
Heat-related emergency room visits also spiked as temperatures climbed last week. Between Wednesday and Saturday, there were 379 heat-related emergency room visits across the five boroughs, city data shows.
Tagged
Health and Science
new jersey
new york
weather
Caroline Lewis
Caroline Lewis is on the health care beat for WNYC and Gothamist. She has covered COVID, a nurses' strike, the overdose crisis and New York’s marijuana legalization effort, and spent a year investigating patients' medical bills. She always wants to hear about how everyday New Yorkers experience the health system. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Central Park birders, others remember 63-year-old woman killed in park
People who said they knew her described her as an artist and a familiar presence in the Ramble.
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 7:04 p.m. ET
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
News
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .