The temperature in New York City’s Central Park reached 100 degrees Thursday afternoon, making it the city’s first 100-degree day since 2012, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service recorded the temperature at its Central Park observation site at 1:51 p.m. Thursday. At that time, the heat index — which combines air temperature and humidity to reflect how hot it feels — reached 106 degrees.

Earlier Thursday, John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens also reached 100 degrees at 11:14 a.m., with a heat index of 104 degrees.

Central Park’s 100-degree reading marked the first time the official New York City weather station has reached triple digits since July 18, 2012.

Last year, Central Park’s highest temperature was 99 degrees, recorded June 24 during the summer’s most intense heat wave.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Central Park was 106 degrees on July 9, 1936. The second-highest was 104 degrees on July 22, 2011.

Extreme heat warning remains in effect

An extreme heat warning remains in effect for New York City and much of the surrounding metro area through 9 p.m. Friday, July 3.

Forecasters expect afternoon temperatures between 97 and 102 degrees, with heat index values ranging from 105 to 115 degrees.

Officials urge residents to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day and spend time in air-conditioned buildings whenever possible.

Westchester County advises on how to stay cool during the heat wave

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Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins discusses heat wave coming later this week during the weekly county briefing June 29, 2026 in White Plains. Westchester County pools and beaches will remain open an extra hour on Wednesday and Thursday, July 1 and 2 from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with last entry at 7 p.m., to help residents stay cool during the heatwave.

(Tania Savayan/The Journal News)

According to NYC.gov, more than 500 New Yorkers died from heat-related illness in 2025. Older adults and people with heart disease, asthma and other chronic medical conditions are at the greatest risk.

Officials also note that homes without air conditioning can become significantly hotter than outdoor temperatures and encourage residents to use public cooling centers if needed.

Residents can find the nearest New York City cooling center through NYC Emergency Management. Cooling center information is also available for Long Island, the Lower Hudson Valley and other parts of the state through local emergency management agencies.

Air quality alert issued for Friday

An air quality alert remains in effect Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. for New York City, Long Island, Westchester County and Rockland County.

State environmental officials expect ground-level ozone to push the Air Quality Index above 100, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, older adults and people with heart or lung disease.

As of 7:30 a.m. Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported an AQI of 59 in New York City and 52 in the Lower Hudson Valley, both in the moderate range. Forecasters expect those values to climb above 100 later in the day as temperatures increase.

The EPA recommends limiting prolonged outdoor activity when AQI exceeds 100, especially for sensitive groups.

Other recommendations include:

Keep windows and doors closed.

Use an air purifier if available.

Run air conditioning on the recirculate setting with a high-efficiency filter.

Avoid activities that increase indoor air pollution, such as burning candles, frying food or using gas appliances.

Clean surfaces with a damp cloth rather than dry dusting.

If wildfire smoke affects air quality, consider wearing a well-fitting N95 mask when outdoors for extended periods.

July 4 weekend forecast

Friday, July 3: Increasing clouds with a high near 102 degrees. Heat index values could reach 109 degrees. A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms is expected between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Overnight lows will be around 82 degrees.

Saturday, July 4: Partly to mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. High near 97 degrees, with heat index values up to 102 degrees. Overnight lows around 76 degrees with additional chances for showers and thunderstorms.

Sunday, July 5: Mostly cloudy with a high near 86 degrees. Showers and thunderstorms are possible during the afternoon and evening. Overnight lows around 71 degrees.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NYC hits 100 degrees in Central Park for first time since 2012