NEW YORK — A combination of high heat, poor air quality, and the threat of severe thunderstorms is bearing down on New York City this weekend, prompting multiple advisories from state and federal agencies.
A heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service remains in effect for all five boroughs Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with heat index values expected to reach up to 104 degrees. The alert covers Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, where hot temperatures and high humidity could increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.
Alongside the heat, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality alert for New York City and surrounding counties from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday. The Air Quality Index is forecast to exceed 100 for ground-level ozone, signaling a potential health risk for sensitive individuals, including young children, the elderly, and those with asthma or heart disease.
“Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 100 for the pollutant of ground level ozone,” the advisory states.
Friday’s forecast includes a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m., as a front pushes through the region. Highs will reach near 93 degrees, with heat index values climbing past 100. Gusty southwest winds up to 20 mph may accompany the storms, with localized downpours and the possibility of flash flooding.
The rain threat continues into the evening, tapering off after 8 p.m., with overnight lows near 77.
Saturday brings relief from the extreme heat, with steady temperatures around 79 degrees under partly sunny skies. Northeast winds will shift southeast in the afternoon, with mostly cloudy conditions continuing into Saturday night.
Sunday’s outlook includes another round of possible thunderstorms, with a 50% chance of rain after 2 p.m. Temperatures will hover near 79 during the day and remain in the upper 70s overnight. Another stretch of hot and humid conditions is forecast to return early next week, with heat index values likely exceeding 95, and possibly topping 105 by Tuesday.
