Heat advisories have been issued throughout the Tri-state area as temperatures are expected to near or top 100 degrees Wednesday and Thursday.
The advisory is in effect from noon Wednesday until 8 p.m. Thursday for New York City, northeast New Jersey, the lower Hudson Valley, southern Connecticut and Nassau County.
An air quality health advisory is also in effect from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday in Suffolk, Nassau, Richmond, Kings, Queens, New York, Bronx, Westchester and Rockland counties.
On Thursday, it will be very hot and humid with a high near the record of 97, last reached in 1988, according to AccuWeather. The AccuWeather Real Feel temperature will be between 100 and 105.
Hundreds of cooling centers will be open Wednesday and Thursday throughout New York City.
The city has also launched a new mobile app for the Water On The Go program. You can use it to find water fountain locations and cooling centers in all five boroughs.
For information about cooling centers in other parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, residents should contact their local or county offices of emergency management.
Hospitals are also prepping across the region.
“When we see a heat wave coming here, in the emergency department, we anticipate seeing a few patients a day that come with symptoms of heat exhaustion and danger of heat stroke,” said Dr. Aaron Gingrich at St. Luke’s Roosevelt.
In the city, just 64 percent of classrooms have air conditioning, so the Department of Education is advising students to wear light clothing and is asking schools to limit outdoor playtime.
If you have air conditioning, Con Edison urges you to keep it set to 78 degrees to conserve critical energy needed to beat the heat.
Soaring temperatures could also be the first real test of CL&P in Connecticut since Tropical Storm Irene last August left hundreds without power for days.
While that’s not likely to happen this week, the utility is on Gov. Dan Malloy’s radar.
“We are in touch with CL&P as to their ability of all of our utilities to respond to the energy demand that probably will come about as a result of these high temperatures,” he said.
And if you headed to the beach to keep cool, lifeguards have a plea to swimmers.
“Please just swim by the lifeguards even though it might be crowded,” said Jones Beach lifeguard Capt. Ed Peters. “For you safety.”
Below are some more tips to help you keep cool when the temperatures heat up:
- Stay indoors in air conditioning as much as possible.
- If you do go outside, stay in the shade.
- If your home is not air-conditioned, spend at least two hours daily at an air-conditioned mall, library or other public place.
- Wear sunscreen outside along with loose-fitting, light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
- Drink water regularly even if you are not thirsty. Limit alcohol and sugary drinks which speeds dehydration.
- Never leave children or pets alone in the car.
- Avoid exertion during the hottest part of the day.
- Take a cool shower or bath.
- Make sure to leave plenty of water for your pets.
- Be a good neighbor, check on elderly and people with disabilities in your community who may need assistance keeping cool.
- Additionally, residents should contact their local and/or county offices of emergency management regarding any open air-conditioned senior centers or cooling stations.
{CBS Local/Matzav.com Newscenter}
