Who needs a trip to the Caribbean when you can just step outside your apartment and feel like you’re already there?! We’d still rather be lounging on a beach than sweating on a subway platform, but all jokes aside, NYC is once again baking under a brutal heat wave. With the heat index expected to climb as high as 104°F today, Wednesday, July 15, it’ll actually feel hotter than Cancún.
A Heat Advisory is currently in effect through 10 pm Thursday, July 16. According to the National Weather Service, air temperatures across NYC are expected to climb to around 100°F, while the combination of heat and humidity will push the feels-like temperature to as high as 104°F.
To put that into perspective, Cancún–famous for its tropical, hot, and humid climate year-round–is forecast to reach a high of 90°F today, with a RealFeel of about 95°F. That means stepping outside in NYC could feel even hotter than spending the day on one of Mexico’s most famous beaches.
And while July and August are typically Cancún’s hottest months, bringing average highs around 90°F and plenty of intense humidity, today’s forecast has NYC delivering the kind of heat you’d expect in the Caribbean—not the Northeast.
Still, even if it feels like the tropics outside, today isn’t the day to roll out your towel and soak up the sun.
In addition to the Heat Advisory, an Air Quality Health Advisory is also in effect across NYC as smoke from the Canadian wildfires continues drifting into New York State. Officials are urging New Yorkers to limit prolonged time outdoors whenever possible, especially children, older adults, and anyone with heart or lung conditions.
If you have to be outdoors today, stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day, wear lightweight clothing, and take breaks in air-conditioned spaces whenever possible. Keep an eye on the latest alerts from the National Weather Service and NYC Emergency Management for any updates.
And honestly, we already know the subway platforms are about to feel like the seventh circle of Hell today…so staying inside might be the best vacation you’ll take all week. Mix yourself a piña colada, blast some tropical music, and convince yourself you’re in Cancún.
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right? 🍹