A scorching “heat dome” blanketed the city ahead of the official first day of summer on Thursday, as New Yorkers flocked to park fountains and municipal swimming pools on Wednesday to cool off.
In the muggy conditions, with temperatures soaring to 89 degrees, children splashed around in the fountains of Washington Square Park to cool off, a shirtless street musician played the saxophone, and sunbathers used reflective pads on windshields to get a tan.
Meteorologists say the first heatwave of the year is expected to continue, with temperatures soaring to 91 degrees on Thursday, this year’s summer solstice, and temperatures that feel like they will be in the upper 90s.
This prolonged period of severe weather is caused by a “heat dome” — a mass of hot air trapped under a high pressure system.
FOX Weather forecaster Samantha Thomas said the heat will intensify over the weekend and conditions will get worse before they get better.
“It’s definitely the first real heatwave of the year, and it’s hard for people to get used to the first heatwave,” Thomas said. “It’s a good time to remind yourself to wear light-colored clothing, stay in the shade, wear sunscreen, and drink lots of water.”
Friday is expected to be a scorching hot day with a high of 92 degrees, followed by 87 degrees on Saturday and 93 degrees on Sunday, all of which will feel close to triple digits.
Meteorologists officially define a heat wave as temperatures reaching or exceeding 90 degrees for three consecutive days, but Thomas said that’s “possible” in New York City.
The highest temperature ever recorded in New York on June 20th was 98 degrees in 1923, and the highest temperature ever recorded on June 21st was 97 degrees in 1988.
Earlier this week, Mayor Eric Adams warned New Yorkers to take the heat seriously, stressing that cooling centers would be opening across the city.
“Let me be clear: this is extremely hot for June, and New Yorkers should not underestimate the heat,” Adams said.
“Climate change is causing more frequent and intense heat events and summers are not what they used to be, so we need to anticipate and prepare for the hot weather that is coming.”
