New York City activated its emergency heat plan and reopened cooling centers this week as forecasters warned of dangerous temperatures across the region through the weekend and into next week.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory running from Thursday morning through Friday evening and later extended it into Saturday, Gothamist reported. The heat index was expected to reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit across the city, North Jersey, the Hudson Valley and southern Connecticut.
Temperatures of 90 degrees or higher are forecast to continue through Tuesday, with humidity at 70 percent or above for several days. Brian Ciemnecki, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told Gothamist that heat advisories should always be taken seriously and advised staying hydrated and in air-conditioned spaces.
Forecasters also warned of the possibility of severe storms.
The city's cooling centers, which open in public buildings including libraries and community centers during extreme heat, have been used repeatedly this summer.
Heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the United States, and risk is highest for people working or exercising outdoors, older residents and those without air conditioning at home.
The weekend heat coincided with several large outdoor events in the city, including the National Dominican Day Parade in Midtown Manhattan on Sunday.