As Yonkers and much of the eastern U.S. sweated it out with temperatures that hit 100 degrees Friday, tomorrow is expected to be more of the same, with the added twist of thunderstorms possibly hitting just in time to disrupt Independence Day celebrations.
Local and state governments responded earlier in the week, taking measures to help those who are particularly vulnerable to heat, including the elderly and those in homes without air conditioners. Events in Philadelphia and Washington were either canceled or rescheduled.
Yonkers put out a list of cooling center hours, with eight facilities in community centers and libraries. Five of them were only open Wednesday and today, with the others offering Friday hours, but none on the weekend. The parks department sent out a list of four parks equipped with water sprinklers.
The current forecast calls for a high of 97 Saturday – with a heat index of 102. The elevated risk for showers and thunderstorms begins at 2 p.m. according to the National Weather Service.
As of 3 p.m. Friday, the city hasn’t sent out a new advisory regarding the Saturday plans or new measures to provide added assistance during the continuing heat wave. City offices were closed, and officials in several agencies could not be reached for comment.
The July 4 waterfront celebration begins at 7 p.m. with live music. The fireworks launch at about 9 p.m. In advance of the event, the city put a particular emphasis on the extensive street closures and parking restrictions downtown. Warnings went out on social media and via robocalls and emails.
Making matters worse, millions of gallons of raw sewage were pumped into the Hudson starting at midnight, following an outage at the Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant. The county issued an advisory to communities from New York City to Briarcliff Manor, urging people to “avoid all recreational use” of the river. The Yonkers plant pumps out 145 million gallons a day that flows to Yonkers from 22 muncipalities. Con Edison has already encountered electrical problems related to the heat, with reduced voltage in effect in some areas. There was no information to suggest the electrial grid problem was related to the sewage plant malfunction.
The widely predicted heat wave began Tuesday, when temperatures crossed 90. The high temperature ratcheted up through today, with two straight days at a humid 100 degrees.
Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a heat warning at the beginning of the week and Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins underscored weather concerns as well, announcing the county pools and beaches would be open an extra hour Wednesday and Thursday.
Heat is already the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The risk of heat-related death and illness is expected to increase as extreme heat events become more frequent and intense.
