Hot town, (early) summer in the city!
Mercury in New York City will soar into the hot and sticky 90s this week — triggering an air quality alert for Monday.
The air quality health advisory, covering the five boroughs, Long Island, Westchester County, and Rockland County, was issued by the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
Sisters Eva, Ella and Anya Towson (left to right) practicing gymnastics in Central Park during the heat wave on May 18, 2026. Stephen Yang for NY Post
Sofia Rosales (left) and Sofia Rosales playing pickleball in the warm weather. Stephen Yang for NY Post“Summer heat can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of photochemical smog,” the departments’ commissioners told CBS News.
The air quality alert for ground-level ozone is in place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday.
Elevated ozone levels can pose a risk for people with cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases such as asthma, the elderly, and those exercising outdoors, the commissioners said.
“Ozone levels generally decrease at night and can be minimized during daylight hours by curtailment of automobile travel and the use of public transportation where available,” they said.
A man basking in the sun in Madison Square Park on Monday. Stephen Yang for NY Post
Santiago Valenzuela (left) and Connor Keowen kicking around a soccer ball in Central Park. Stephen Yang for NY Post
People lounging on Rockaway Beach in Queens on Monday. Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY PostThe tri-state area is about to get an early dose of summer heat this week with temps in the 90s — compared to highs in just the 60s last week.
Hazy skies are expected in the area, with highs in the 90s inland, dropping to the cooler 70s on the coast.
Lows inland at night will only slip into the 70s Monday night, as temperatures are set to rise again Tuesday.
Temperatures could reach 100 degrees inland. CBS News New York
The warning covers the five boroughs, Long Island, Westchester County, and Rockland County. NYS DECPotential highs of 100 degrees are possible for some inland areas on Tuesday, with places such as Newark facing a chance of a heatwave.
By Wednesday, tri-state area temperatures could remain in the low 90s, with possible thunderstorms unlikely to break the humidity.
Later in the week, temperatures will cool slightly, with highs in the 60s and 70s expected to last through the Memorial Day weekend.
But anyone looking to head to the beach for a cool down may want to bring a wetsuit — local water temperatures will be in the 50s, posing a high risk of hypothermia.
