NYC Heat Wave Drives 209 EMS Calls as Central Park Hits 100 Degrees
Updated
Updated · Gothamist · Jul 2
NYC Heat Wave Drives 209 EMS Calls as Central Park Hits 100 Degrees
3 articles · Updated · Gothamist · Jul 2
Summary
New York City logged 209 heat-related 911 calls and 151 emergency-room visits on Wednesday as a new heat wave tightened its grip on the city.
Central Park hit 100 degrees Thursday—the city's first triple-digit reading in more than a decade—after the heat index reached 100 Wednesday and climbed above 105 Thursday; Friday is forecast to reach 101.
City officials said the emergency volume was high but in line with a heat event of this scale, even as this summer has already produced three heat waves with more than 100 EMS calls, versus two in all of 2025.
The strain spread beyond hospitals: the state grid operator issued an energy watch, Con Edison reported scattered outages and cut power to some Riverdale residents, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged conservation to keep air conditioning running.
As 100-degree days become the new norm, is New York's aging power grid ready for the future?
A new order protects workers from heat, but how will it shield the city's most vulnerable gig and delivery staff?
New York City’s 112°F Heat Wave: Emergency Measures, Grid Failures, and Climate Inequality
Overview
New York City is facing a historic heat wave that began on July 2, 2026, with temperatures expected to feel as high as 112 degrees through the holiday weekend. In response, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani released a video PSA urging residents to create personal heat plans, check on neighbors, and use city resources. The Mayor also convened city leaders to announce new emergency measures, building on an unprecedented Heat Emergency Plan established earlier in the week. These proactive steps aim to protect residents and reduce health risks during this extreme weather event.