Central Park reported a temperature of 100 degrees on Thursday as a heat wave swept across the Northeast ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend.
The last time the park recorded 100 degrees was July 18, 2012. The reading came at 1:51 p.m. from a thermometer stationed at Belvedere Castle in Central Park, which is the city’s official weather station. It also tied a record for July 2, which last reached 100 degrees in 1966.
The record heat settled over the concrete sidewalks and glinting steel skyscrapers just as many were preparing for a busy weekend of events in New York City.
There were the reported wedding festivities of Taylor Swift, the pop star, and Travis Kelce, the football player, on July 3 in Midtown Manhattan at Madison Square Garden, which was thought to be drawing celebrities to the city as temperatures soared.
Then there were the various celebrations of America’s 250th birthday, including a tall ships parade and Macy’s fireworks on July 4. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to appear on an aircraft carrier for the ships parade on Saturday, and temperatures are expected to remain high.
And while the fireworks are scheduled to take place well after sundown, relief from the heat would likely be minimal, as overnight temperatures are expected to fall into the 70s to low 80s.
That’s not to mention the World Cup, which is taking place across the Hudson River in New Jersey. Norway will take on Brazil there in a round of 16 match on Sunday, when temperatures are expected to be a much more reasonable 85 degrees or so. Norway is fresh off its first-ever knockout round win after it beat Ivory Coast on Tuesday.
Tourists from dozens of countries have filled the streets of Manhattan since the tournament kicked off in June, and many will be witnessing historic heat in addition to their national teams’ historic feats.
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