How To Beat NYC's Heat Wave: Cooling Centers, Pools And More

NEW YORK CITY — Cool it already, Mother Nature — New York City still faces two more days of sweltering, potentially deadly temperatures.

But as the heat wave lingers, New Yorkers also have several ways to beat the heat, from public pools to cooling centers.

Here's a quick guide to cool off if the air conditioner is on the fritz, or doesn't exist.

Latest Forecast

First things first: it's going to be hot.

The city is now under a heat advisory that the National Weather Service extended through Saturday evening.

And it's something of a silver lining, as forecasters canceled an excessive heat warning for Friday as they changed predictions of a 108-degree heat index.

The silver summer lining, however, is relative: the heat index is still expected to hit as high as 102 degrees Friday and Saturday.

"The heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential
for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities," a National Weather Service briefing states.

Cooling Centers

New York City officials activated the city's network of cooling centers — which are air-conditioned spaces in public facilities — this week to help New Yorkers find some relief.

The centers across the five boroughs are expected to remain open through Saturday, officials said.

Locations may have changed since last year, so New Yorkers are encouraged to call 311 or visit Cooling Center Finder to find updated locations.

Pet owners can also find what cooling centers welcome dogs, cats and other critters on the city's finder. The city also partnered with Petco to help offer cooling spaces.

The Salvation Army Greater New York will also open several free cooling centers inside their neighborhood locations Friday. Those are:

• Astoria: Friday, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Bronx Tremont Center: Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Flushing: Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Stapleton: Friday until 2:30 p.m.
• Ridgewood: Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Public Pools

Public pools, 33 of them, will have their hours extended by one hour through Saturday, meaning they'll stay open until 8 p.m.

The extended hours apply to all the city's parks department intermediate and Olympic-sized outdoor pools.

People can find more information and locations at nyc.gov/parks/pools.

Beaches

The city's public beaches, however, will not have their hours extended, THE CITY first reported.

Officials pinned the decision partly on a lifeguard shortage, as well as a desire not to "incentivize" long travel to beaches for many New Yorkers, according to the report.

Regardless, 14 miles of public beaches will open for swimming with lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Find out more information on beaches here.

Spray Showers, Drinking Fountains, Shady Trees And More

The city also has a veritable arsenal of other cooling options, from spray showers to misting stations to drinking fountains.

Those can be found on a detailed map on Cool It! NYC.

The map shows New Yorkers not only where their closest misting station may be, but also areas of the city with shady tree cover.

And few things are more synonymous with summer in New York than the sight of fire hydrants spraying water on neighborhood streets.

Zach Iscol, the city's emergency management commissioner, urged New Yorkers to not improperly open fire hydrants, as they can flood streets and lower water pressure meant to battle fires. But he also acknowledged the inevitable.

"I recommend that you use spray caps on these hydrants to limit the output to a safe 25 gallons per minute," he said. "These are available for adults over the age of 18, with an ID, at your local firehouse."

Rain

Mother Nature herself may offer the best way to beat the heat wave.

The forecast calls for rain in the form of severe potential thunderstorms Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Showers and thunderstorms are most likely after 3 p.m. that day, which carries a chance of a 100-degree heat index, the forecast states.

From there, it looks like the heat wave will break.

"A cold frontal passage late Saturday will bring relief for Sunday into next week," a National Weather Service briefing states.