Temperatures Climb As Heat Wave Descends On New York City
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Tri-State Area officials have issued heat warnings, as temperatures continue to climb well into the 90s this weekend.
CBS2's Reena Roy caught up with people cooling off at John Jay Pool on the Upper East Side.
"It's very hot today," one little boy said. "It feels really good, like I feel so cooled down."
"It feels amazing, because it's really hot out and when we got in the pool, it was so cool," another boy added.
"It feels good," said another.
"It feels great, actually, it does," his friends added.
"I'm happy to be out. It's a nice day, it's like a heat wave. So instead of being in my house hot, I get to be here enjoying the pool," a girl said.
Over in Central Park, people were playing sports, while others worked on their tans.
"It's a beautiful day, it feels great. I'm really glad I came out," said a man.
Of course, fun in the sun also means slathering on sunscreen frequently.
"It is very important, because sunburns can really hurt, and it can be really painful and it can really last a long time," a boy said.
The staff at Selena Rosa restaurant helped the community stay cool by handing out free bottles of water.
MORE: Tips To Beat The Heat
Later in the evening, people were enjoying the warmth in Union Square.
"It's hot, it's humid, but we make it work," one man said. "I just came out of work, so why not enjoy the nightlife?"
"I'm very happy to be here. It's just a good atmosphere to be in, like everybody's out," said a woman.
"It's perfect, I love it," another woman added. "It's very tropic."
"I was looking forward to it, so it's nice to be out," said another.
Others, though, weren't fans of the forecast.
"I feel like I'm walking through very hot soup and I can't rid myself of it," one man said.
Some preferred a movie and popcorn with a side of cold air.
"I'll take the cool, it comes with the tickets," a woman said.
Unfortunately, those cooking in a cart, like Muhammad Shukurov, had no choice but to sweat it out. His small kitchen will be even hotter than usual for the next few days.
"It's going to be so hot. So when I stay over here, I start to sweat. So usually when I turn this on, I stay on the other side. Or if I turn coffee on, I stay over this side," he told Roy.
He even had a few more tactics to get through it.
"We have cold water here and usually we have some ice cream, so I think I'm pretty good," he said.
With high temps expected to stick around for at least a few days, the New York City Emergency Management Department encouraged everyone to beat the heat by knowing the hazards of heat exposure.
The director the New York State Office for the Aging is warning senior citizens and their caregivers about high temperatures as a heat wave moves in.
Agency leader Greg Olsen said Friday that hot weather can be particularly dangerous for older adults, especially those who live alone, are low-income or have chronic health conditions.
The state recommends staying inside in air-conditioned buildings and avoiding strenuous activity during the sun's peak hours between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to decrease the risk of heat-related illness.
Other tips include drinking lots of water and eating meals that don't require a stove or oven to prepare.
Everyone is asked to check in on at-risk family, friends, neighbors, senior citizens, and anyone with chronic health conditions.
Officials remind everyone to never leave children or pets unattended in a car and of course, ensure your furry friends have enough food and water.
Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection issued a warning for sensitive groups of a prolonged period of unhealthy air.
The department says there will be elevated levels of ozone across the state beginning Saturday and continuing through at least Monday. Computer models predict the trend could last into the middle of next week. Connecticut is poised to experience its first big heat wave of the summer season.
Officials say children and people with asthma will be at the most risk for experiencing symptoms on Saturday. Meanwhile, everyone, including healthy adults, will be at the most risk for health issues on Sunday and Monday. That's when ozone levels could potentially reach unhealthy levels due to the extreme heat.
Peak ozone levels are predicted to occur each day between noon and 8 p.m.
Sunday was expected to be the hottest of the warm stretch, with temperatures set to soar into the upper 90s. Hours for outdoor pools in New York City were extended to 8 p.m. at all Olympic and intermediate-sized pools through Sunday.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
