Summer-Like Heat Wave Forecast for NY, NJ This Week
A heat advisory has been issued for New York City and Northeast New Jersey from 11 a.m. Tuesday through 8 p.m. Wednesday, as unseasonably hot weather is expected to grip the area with temps to 97 degrees.
by COLlive Editor · COLliveA heat advisory has been issued for New York City and Northeast New Jersey from 11 a.m. Tuesday through 8 p.m. Wednesday, as unseasonably hot weather is expected to grip the area with heat indices reaching up to 97 degrees.
NYC Emergency Management said it is closely monitoring the potential for dangerous heat beginning Tuesday, May 19, and continuing into Wednesday, May 20. Current forecasts call for temperatures feeling like the middle of summer, with peak heat expected during the afternoon hours.
According to the NWS, heat index values across New York City are expected to range from 91-96 degrees Tuesday afternoon, with the highest values expected between approximately 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. in portions of the Bronx, northern Manhattan and Staten Island.
An Air Quality Health Alert remains in effect through 11 p.m. tonight, with an Air Quality Index of 105, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Forecasted weather conditions could result in elevated air quality index levels through Wednesday. Exposure to poor air quality can increase respiratory stress, especially for people with asthma or allergies.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the city has activated its Heat Emergency Plan ahead of the hot conditions.
Cooling centers will open across all five boroughs, while city agencies expand outreach efforts to seniors, individuals with chronic illnesses, and people experiencing homelessness.
“Just as New Yorkers look out for one another through the coldest days of winter, we must do the same through the hottest days of the year,” Mayor Mamdani said. “City workers will be out across all five boroughs welcoming neighbors to cooling centers and helping our neighbors stay safe in extreme heat.”
Christina Farrell warned that the early-season heat may catch many residents unprepared.
“Tomorrow, we’ll be seeing temperatures that feel more like the middle of summer than the middle of May,” Farrell said. “Because it’s arriving early in the season, New Yorkers may not be thinking about heat safety yet.”
City health officials are urging residents to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, and spend time in air-conditioned environments whenever possible.
An Air Quality Health Alert also remains in effect, with officials warning that poor air quality may especially impact people with asthma or allergies.
New Yorkers are encouraged to check on elderly neighbors and vulnerable family members, recognize signs of heat illness, and make use of cooling centers and outdoor cooling resources across the city.
Cooling center locations, including accessible and pet-friendly sites, can be found by calling 311 or by visiting the City’s Cool Options Map
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