A sustained heat wave in New York City pushed temperatures near historic levels on July 3, with the high temperature at Central Park potentially reaching between 98 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit. The National Weather Service, which maintains the official climatological record for the city, is expected to publish the final reading after midnight.
The July 3 high falls just short of the record for that date, 101 degrees, set in Central Park in 1966. The current heat wave has seen consecutive days with temperatures at or above 95 degrees, prompting the NWS to issue heat advisories and excessive heat warnings for the area.
The NWS forecast discussion leading into July 3 indicated a strong likelihood of extreme heat, with the synoptic setup supporting readings near or above 98 degrees. The official reading is taken at Central Park, the city's benchmark location for weather records, and will be published in the NWS daily Climatological Report.
New York City has activated heat emergency protocols during the stretch, including cooling centers and outreach to vulnerable populations. The heat wave has placed additional strain on the power grid and public health systems.
The next step is the release of the official NWS Climatological Report for July 3, which will confirm the exact high temperature and close the question of whether the 98-99 degree range was reached.
