Tri-State Area Braces For Hottest Day Of The Year, Record-Setting Temperatures
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Saturday tied for the hottest day of the year in 2012, maxing out at 95 degrees in midtown Manhattan. The figure fell short of the 100-degree record in the city, which was set only two years ago.
In the midst of yet another heat wave, AccuWeather RealFeel temperatures were expected to be as high as 105 to 110 throughout the day.
As of 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, the RealFeel temperature hit 97 degrees in midtown Manhattan, and at noon it hit 99. By 1:00 p.m. it had reached all the way to 101 degrees, but by 2:00 it dipped back to 97.
Friday was the area's third consecutive day of 90-plus degree temperatures. It got as high as 93 degrees on Friday at 1:57 p.m. On Saturday, an excessive heat warning was in effect until 6:00 p.m.
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"Of course we've had plenty of hot weather so far this summer, but today will be the hottest day of the season so far," AccuWeather meteorologist Eric Wilhelm told 1010 WINS. "Temperatures in the city will make a run at the record of 100. Today will be much more humid than it was yesterday."
1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reports
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City health officials are urging everyone to be careful. Thomas Matte, the Assistant Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said that children, older adults and people with disabilities are most at risk.
And he told 1010 WINS that people should try to stay indoors as much as they can -- with the air conditioning on.
WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports
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"Set [the air conditioning] so that you're comfortable in light clothes," Matte said. "If you don't like the cold feeling, then adjust your air conditioner so you're comfortable. If you can't use an air conditioner -- if you don't have one at home -- see if you can get to an air-conditioned place, even for part of the day, to get a break from the heat. And staying hydrated, drinking water -- even if you're not thirsty -- is very important when it gets hot."
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The city has set up cooling centers to help keep people feeling refreshed. Cooling off at the library isn't an option for patrons at five Brooklyn branches and one Queens branch, however. The libraries have closed because the air conditioning can't keep up, and they're expected to reopen next week.
WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reports
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Con Edison of New York has cut voltage in five percent of the southeast Bronx, and is urging people to conserve power where they can.
Also, there are expected to be heavy, damaging thunderstorms on Saturday that could mean major outages across the area tonight into Sunday. There is a severe thunderstorm watch in effect for the Tri-State Area.
What are your plans for this brutally hot Saturday? Let us know in the comments section below...
