The East Coast, particularly the corridor from New York City to Washington, D.C., is bracing for extreme heat and humidity this weekend. Utility company Con Edison has already reduced voltage in parts of Queens and urged residents to minimize their electricity usage.
In New York, Central Park temperatures are forecasted to soar to 96°F (36°C) on Saturday, while Washington, D.C., is expected to reach a scorching 100°F. These temperatures could potentially break records set in 1988.
“We’re in for a hot few days,” said Marc Chenard, a senior forecaster at the US Weather Prediction Center. “The humidity will make it feel even hotter, leading to heat advisories for both cities.” Indeed, an unbroken string of heat advisories stretches from Indiana to western Massachusetts. In New York, the humidity will push the ‘feels like’ temperature close to 100°F, significantly increasing energy demand as residents turn on their air conditioners.
In response to the anticipated surge in electricity use, Con Edison announced on Friday that it would reduce voltage in parts of Queens by 8% and requested about 130,000 customers to conserve energy while repairs are underway. Overnight temperatures in Manhattan are expected to remain around 78°F, offering little relief and maintaining high energy demand. Sunday will see similar highs of 95°F with overnight lows around 77°F, while Washington, D.C., will see highs of 98°F and lows of 76°F.
The heat has also impacted transportation, causing delays on Amtrak and New Jersey Transit due to rail, bridge, and overhead wire expansions from the heat. Both New York Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul have issued warnings for residents to take precautions against the heat. Philadelphia will experience some of the worst conditions, with highs forecasted to reach 97°F and humidity making it feel closer to 102°F on Saturday.
This intense heat wave is driven by a large area of high pressure that has dominated the eastern US over the past week. While this high pressure system is expected to weaken slightly next week, bringing some relief, it will not fully exit the region. Long-term forecasts suggest July will be warmer than usual across large parts of the US.
“This is definitely hotter than typical for late June and early July,” Chenard noted.
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