New Yorkers brace for extreme heat: ‘It’s hotter than hell’

New Yorkers brace for extreme heat: ‘It’s hotter than hell’
A man wipes his face amid a heatwave at Brower Skate Park in New York City, 1 July 2026
Reuters

New York City is preparing for a dangerous heatwave ahead of this weekend's 4 July celebrations.

A heat dome over the U.S. East Coast brought New York City its hottest day since 2012, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures in Central Park reached 100F (38C) on Thursday afternoon.

Outdoor concerts have been cancelled across the city, tourists are avoiding daytime sightseeing, and commuters are facing travel delays on the last working day before the holiday weekend for many.

"Hot, hot. Hotter than hell. Hotter than the midday sun," a performer known as "The Naked Cowboy" sang in Times Square, quoting the 1974 Kiss song Hotter Than Hell.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has activated the city's heat emergency plan, saying hundreds of cooling centres have opened across the five boroughs, along with more than a dozen "cool vans" providing medical care, water, electrolytes, sunscreen and meals.

The mayor has urged New Yorkers throughout the week to stay indoors.

Reuters

"My recommendation to all New Yorkers is to stay inside and stay cool. And if you happen to be getting married at Madison Square Garden," he said on 1 July, in an apparent reference to rumours surrounding Taylor Swift's wedding, "you will be staying inside and you will be staying cool."

About 90% of households in New York have air conditioning. However, that figure falls to as low as 76% in some low-income areas, according to the city's Department of Health.

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