Luckily, there are some city-approved ways for staying safe and cool–and yes, this even includes jumping in the fountains!).
When NYC goes through a heatwave, the city opens “cooling centers,” air-conditioned locations where the public can find some respite from the high temperatures & humidity. They can be anywhere from libraries to senior centers to school buildings to community centers.
And with a scorching heat wave on track to close out June in NYC with temperatures clocking in at 15º above averages, NYers are recommended to stay cool indoors as much as possible.
You can find the full map on the “Cooling Center Finder” online here, just simply type where you are and it will find the closest cooling centers to you:
You can also filter the search by “Accessible Only” if needed. The site changes daily based on open hours, so be sure to check it before you head to one.
Some other ways ways to beat the heat?
- Take a dip in one of NYC’s free public pools
- Have FDNY open a fire hydrant for you (request it here)
- Stay hydrated!
- Get some ice cream
You can find out how NYC is preparing for a summer of suffocating heat and poor air quality here.