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A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC. Gothamist Listen Live Donate News Extreme heat returns to NYC as city activates emergency plan By Michael Sol Warren Published Aug 6, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. ET
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The city is bracing for another dangerous heat wave.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service expect a blast of heat and humidity to descend on the New York City region and linger for a few days, prompting the city to reopen cooling centers that have seen plenty of action this summer.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the area from 11 a.m. Thursday through 8 p.m. Friday, and warns that the advisory is likely to be extended into Saturday. Rain could be another factor.
The heat index is expected to reach up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit across the city, North Jersey, the Hudson Valley and southern Connecticut, raising the risk of heat-related illness for people working or exercising outside. Vulnerable people like seniors or those with chronic health conditions are urged to stay in air-conditioned spaces.
The actual temperatures won’t be that unusual for summer in the region, with highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s. But Bryan Ramsey, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said humidity will be the big challenge over the next few days.
“ Whenever you combine the warm temperatures with extremely high humidity, that's when you get the feels like temperature up that high,” Ramsey said.
Rain is possible every afternoon from Thursday through Saturday, according to forecasters, with Friday being the most likely for showers or storms. Locally heavy downpours may cause flash flooding.
City authorities activated heat and flash flood emergency plans on Wednesday ahead of the expected severe weather. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said cooling centers will be open, cooling vans will be ready to be deployed, and city crews are working to clear drainage basins to prepare for the rain.
“High heat and severe storms are rolling into New York City, and the best thing we can do right now is prepare and look out for one another,” Mamdani said in a statement. “If you don’t have air-conditioning, make a plan to spend time at a cooling center. If you live in a basement apartment or a neighborhood that has flooded before, know where you’ll go if water begins to rise. And if you have a neighbor who may need extra support, check in on them.”
New Jersey is bracing for the heat wave as well. Governor Mikie Sherrill in a social media post urged New Jerseyans to stay hydrated and check on their neighbors. Meantime, NJ 211 is maintaining a list of cooling centers around the state, and Newark has activated Code Red protocols, opening its own cooling centers and urging residents to take precautions.
This story has been updated with new information.
Michael Sol Warren covers New Jersey for WNYC and Gothamist, and previously reported on issues around the Garden State for NJ Spotlight News and NJ Advance Media. He can be reached at [email protected] .
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