New York and Philadelphia Open Cooling Centers as Forecast Highs Near 100 Degrees

New York City expects temperatures to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday with a heat index between 105 and 110 degrees, Wired reported. Friday is forecast to bring similar conditions. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on June 30 that these are extremely dangerous conditions that will affect every part of the city.

The city activated its heat emergency plan for the second time this year after first using it on May 19. More than 650 cooling stations will operate at libraries, recreation centers, Petco stores and government buildings. The Mamdani administration is sending cooling vans to conduct wellness checks, provide medical care, water, electrolytes, sunscreen and transport to cooling centers.

LinkNYC kiosks will display directions to the nearest cooling station. Business owners have been asked to set thermostats to 78 degrees. Department of Social Services workers are conducting in-person outreach to unhoused residents, and individuals seeking short-term shelter will bypass standard intake procedures.

Philadelphia has also activated its heat emergency plan. The city is hosting a World Cup match between Paraguay and France on July 4 at 5 p.m. ET and has shifted its FIFA Fan Festival hours to the evening.

It will provide cooling tents, free water refill stations, shaded areas and multiple medical stations. A Yale University study cited by Wired reported that U.S. deaths associated with high temperatures nearly doubled from an annual average of 2,670 between 2000 and 2009 to more than 4,000 between 2010 and 2020.

New York emergency departments are preparing for increased cases of acute heat illness. Mount Sinai Queens is stocking towels, fans and other supplies, while NYU Langone Health’s Tisch Hospital is readying its emergency department. More than 160 million people nationwide are under heat warnings or advisories, AP News reported.