A relentless heat wave has gripped the Tri-State area, leaving thousands without power as of early Tuesday morning. Con Edison crews worked through the night in Glen Oaks, Queens, to restore electricity to nearly 10,000 customers who lost power due to high demand and overheating equipment.
The heat wave has caused widespread disruptions, with businesses forced to close due to unbearable temperatures inside. Residents have described sweltering apartments with no light or power, while utility companies warn that additional outages are likely if demand continues to spike.
Con Edison has reduced voltage in parts of eastern Brooklyn by 8% and issued warnings for brownouts across the region. The company blames both high energy use and the heat itself for the equipment failures, which have led to at least four reported brownouts so far.
The National Weather Service has reported record-high temperatures in Newark, LaGuardia, Kennedy, and Islip, with John F. Kennedy Airport reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit shortly after noon. The extreme heat warning remains in effect across nearly the entire tri-state area until relief arrives late Tuesday night into Wednesday.
New York City officials have activated its heat emergency plan, urging residents to take precautions such as limiting air conditioning use, avoiding heavy appliances during peak hours, and staying hydrated. Cooling centers are available for those without air conditioning, with over 500 locations open across the city.
The heat wave is expected to continue, but slightly cooler temperatures are forecasted by Wednesday, followed by meaningful relief by Thursday and Friday. Officials warn that hotter summers are becoming more frequent, prompting a “new normal” for extreme weather events in the region.
Source: https://www.fox5ny.com/news/extreme-heat-power-outages-tri-state-area