On Friday, New York City experienced extreme heat, reaching 106 degrees. A significant thunderstorm is expected to impact evening travels.
According to Fox News meteorologist Marissa Rothenbacher, a “heat dome” is affecting much of the East Coast, leading to dangerously high temperatures near 98 degrees and uncomfortable humidity that makes it feel even hotter.
“It’s like touching 106,” Lautenbacher remarked. “The good news is that this intense heat is only for today; it’ll drop to 86 tomorrow and return to normal afterward.”
The current heat and high-pressure patterns have already impacted the central regions of the country and are now creating potential storms for the East Coast.
Lautenbacher noted that as people head home from work, strong thunderstorms are likely to develop around 4-6 PM, bringing rain this afternoon.
The main concern from these storms is strong winds, which could reach up to 59 mph, risking downed tree limbs and power outages. Thankfully, hail and tornadoes aren’t anticipated.
She mentioned that these intense heat conditions and storms often coexist but are usually scattered.
The weather is expected to normalize with average temperatures around 85 degrees returning for Saturday and Sunday, although it might heat up again next week.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for New York City on Friday, warning that these weather conditions are hazardous to health, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with chronic health issues.
City officials announced the opening of a cooling center in response to the heat.
Additionally, the New York State Department of Environmental Protection issued an air quality alert for sensitive groups, particularly those with heart and lung conditions.
