Temperatures soared past the 100 degree mark Tuesday along much of the East Coast, as air conditioners strained to cool the sweating masses and the unlucky sought out cooling centers — or anywhere else they could beat the heat.
Records were broken in New York City’s Central Park and LaGuardia Airport along with Newark, N.J., where temperatures at all locations hit 103 degrees. The previous records for Central Park and LaGuardia were 101 degrees each, while Newark’s old mark was 102.
Islip, N.Y. and John F. Kennedy International Airport also set records at 101 degrees, and Bridgeport, Conn. tied its previous record of 98 degrees.
All the previous records were set in 1999.
After an extended Fourth of July weekend when temperatures inched into at least the 90s from Maine to Texas, The National Weather Service issued heat advisories until 11 p.m. today for much of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, including an excessive heat warning for the Philadelphia area. Wednesday was forecast to be the most humid day of the stretch.
The heat was expected to put a heavy load on the power grid.
“We expect to have record energy use today. It will be a challenge,” said New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Utilities and regional electrical system operators said there is ample generation capacity and no major blackouts were expected.
“The system is designed for what we are experiencing today,” said Con Edison senior vice president John Miksad.
Just a smattering of power outages were reported across the northeast on Monday and Tuesday.
{WCBS-TV/Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}
