Residents across the tri-state battled sweltering temperatures in the 90s for a second day as the summer's first heat wave hung over the area.
Central Park saw a high of 94, which was not enough to break any records. A heat advisory is in effect until 7 p.m Friday.
Record highs were recorded Wednesday at John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark International Airports. The pavement sizzled outdoors and utilities, facing scattered outages due to high usage by New Yorkers desperate to cool down, asked customers to conserve power inside.
Emergency management officials called on residents to stay in air-conditioned places if possible, stay hydrated and check on elderly neighbors.
New York City's 1.1 million public school students, meanwhile, are still in session for another week, and just 64 percent of classrooms are air-conditioned.
Students were advised to wear light clothing and drink plenty of water, and schools have been told to limit outdoor playtime, city Education Department spokeswoman Margie Feinberg said.
The New York City Office of Emergency Management said 455 cooling centers are open through Friday. Residents are asked to call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov for locations.
Skies turn partly cloudy overnight with the possibility for isolated thunderstorms in the lower Hudson Valley. Relief comes in some form Friday, with hazy, humid weather giving way to scattered and severe thunderstorms in the afternoon.
The weekend looks a bit better, with scattered showers Saturday morning giving way to a beautiful Sunday with a high of 83 degrees.
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