The Big Apple baked Friday under near-record temperatures that felt like up to 106 degrees — with severe thunderstorms and damaging winds potentially disrupting the evening commute.
A stifling “heat dome” forming over much of the East Coast caused temperatures to soar to a high of 97 degrees — potentially tying the current record for July 25, set in 1999, Fox Weather Meteorologist Cody Braud told The Post.
“We may tie the record but I don’t think we’ll break it,” Braud said Friday afternoon as temps hit 94 degrees. “There’s a storm moving in that will cool things off later today.”
But the mercury and brutal humidity felt a lot hotter than the mid-90s.
The Naked Cowboy takes a break to drink some ice-cold water in the heat. Robert Miller
People shield themselves from the heat in NYC with clothes and umbrellas. Paul Martinka
“The feels-like temperature is going to be more like 106,” Fox Weather meteorologist Marissa Lautenbacher said earlier in the day. “But luckily, the heat is just for today, and we will go down to 86 tomorrow, which is back towards our average.”
The heat and high-pressure system has already scorched the middle of the country — and is now bringing the threat of severe weather and storms to the East Coast.
Rain started falling in the area early afternoon with strong thunderstorms set to form around 4 to 6 p.m. when people are driving home from work, Lautenbacher said.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for New York City on Friday. ZUMAPRESS.comThe “main threat” from these storms is wind gusts, which could reach 59 mph, potentially knocking down tree limbs or causing power outages, she said. No hail or tornadoes are expected.
Intense heat and strong storms “go hand in hand together,” she said, although they tend to be more scattered in these conditions.
Radar shows how high temperatures will be across the tri-state area. @NWSNewYorkNY/XAverage temperatures, around 85 degrees this time of year, are expected to return Saturday and Sunday before climbing back into the 90s later next week.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for New York City on Friday.
“These conditions are dangerous to health. People without air conditioning, older adults, people with chronic health conditions, and people who work outside are most at risk,” the agency said.
A pup seeks some heat relief with water from an open fire hydrant in NYC. John Angelillo/UPI/ShutterstockNew York City cooling centers will be opened, according to city officials.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has also issued an air quality alert for New York City on Friday for sensitive groups, such as those with heart or lung diseases.
