A heatwave in New York State for the first time in 125 years! #NYHeatWave becomes a global trend as the governor warns it is the "worst in history."

1. Prologue—The Arrival of "Dual Disasters"

On June 22, 2025, at 4 PM, in the press room of the New York State Capitol, Governor Kathy Hochul declared with a stern expression, "We will mobilize every resource of the state." An unprecedented heatwave and torrential rain caused by a stationary front—two extreme weather events that should occur in different seasons—were happening simultaneously, prompting a state of emergency in 32 counties from Long Island to the Adirondack Mountains. During these days, which New Yorkers began calling the "Summer Apocalypse," the city was caught between the opposing crises of scorching heat and flooding.

2. Temperature and Weather—Breaking a 125-Year Record

According to observations by the National Weather Service (NWS), the highest temperature in Manhattan reached 102°F (39°C), significantly surpassing the 99°F record set in 1888. Additionally, with humidity rising to nearly 80%, the heat index exceeded 110°F (about 43°C). A high-pressure "heat dome" trapped the atmosphere, preventing temperatures from dropping significantly even at night. Meanwhile, cumulonimbus clouds developed primarily in the northern regions, causing short-term heavy rain, leading to river flooding in Oneida County, with homes inundated and transportation disrupted. In the heavy rain areas, half of the average June rainfall fell in just three hours, resulting in landslides that claimed three lives.

3. Administrative Response—"Deploying All Resources"

Governor Hochul summoned 600 National Guard members and special units of the state police, dispatching generators, portable pumps, and drone reconnaissance teams to affected areas. The NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM) extended the operation of 550 cooling centers in the city until 10 PM, with the MET's Great Hall and the Brooklyn Public Library's main branch being used as temporary shelters. Additionally, subways and buses were free on all lines until 4 AM on the 23rd, and the MTA doubled the number of air conditioning inspection personnel. In areas with prolonged power outages, the Staten Island Ferry functioned as a "mobile cooling station," distributing drinking water to passengers.

4. Citizen Life—New York, the "Sauna City"

Brooklyn high school teacher Kayla Morales lamented on Reddit's "r/NYCTeachers," saying, "It's impossible to conduct state exams in classrooms with broken air conditioning," garnering over 700 upvotes in 24 hours. On X (formerly Twitter), the phrase "stepping outside feels like a sauna" became a meme, with #NYHeatWave trending second worldwide. At its peak, there were 2,300 posts per minute under the hashtag. Concerns were raised for elderly residents in public housing without air conditioning, and photos of ice packs being hoarded at local drugstores circulated, leading to a community "ice-sharing" initiative. The Queens Public Library tweeted from its official account, "Feel free to take refuge in our cool facilities," and released a bot to guide users to the nearest library with location information.

5. Impact on Infrastructure—Power and Transportation

According to Con Edison, the peak power demand on the 22nd surged to 1.3 times the usual level, leading to planned outages in parts of southern Manhattan and Staten Island. On the subway's C line, rail temperatures exceeded 70°C, resulting in slow operations, with rush hour delays averaging 47 minutes. At LaGuardia Airport, cracks appeared on the asphalt runways due to thermal expansion, causing 34 flights to be canceled. JFK Airport activated an emergency plan to advance painting work on taxiways in anticipation of rising temperatures.

6. Health Risks—Lessons from the Past

During the NYC heatwave in July 2019, 11 people died from heatstroke over three days. The city health department warned that "when the outside temperature exceeds 32°C and does not drop below 25°C at night, the risk of death is 2.5 times higher than usual." Particularly at risk are the elderly, infants, people with respiratory diseases, and outdoor workers. The emergency medical team "HyperTherm" set up temporary IV stations throughout the city, and the fire department's EMS reported that the number of heatstroke patient transports increased fourfold. Hydration guidelines were tightened to "150ml of water every 15 minutes," and sports clubs were banned from outdoor practice.

7. Expert Commentary—The Shadow of Climate Change

Dr. Elise Moreno, a climatologist at Cornell University, noted in a local newspaper interview that "the meandering jet stream is fixing the heat dome for extended periods while simultaneously drawing in atmospheric moisture from the south, intensifying the heavy rain." She also estimated that the average annual temperature in the Northeast is +2.1°C compared to pre-industrial levels, and when considering the urban heat island effect, the perceived increase is nearly +3°C. Dr. Moreno warned that "extreme weather is not a 'black swan' but part of the new climate normal, necessitating a fundamental reassessment of infrastructure investment and urban design."

8. Social Media Culture—Memes and Solidarity

While memes about the scorching heat flooded timelines, movements of solidarity and mutual aid were also prominent. The citizen group "Aquifer" shared locations of free water stations with the hashtag "#HydrateNYC" and published a smart map. On TikTok, a "heatwave hacks" video showing an impromptu cooler by placing a wet towel over a fan surpassed 3.5 million views.In online pet communities, posts recommending measuring the surface temperature of asphalt and shifting dog walking times to just after dawn are spreading, with veterinarians also supporting this advice.

9. Economic and Cultural Impact

Broadway, a key part of tourism, has canceled matinee performances at eight theaters, with related losses estimated at $12 million. Some restaurants have added a "cooling charge" to cover the soaring electricity costs, prompting an investigation by the city's Department of Consumer Protection. On Wall Street, the heatwave and blackout risks have led to a partial shift to remote trading floors, and business hotels in the city are fully booked with a surge of residents seeking refuge. While major retailers have seen ice cream and sports drink sales skyrocket by 320% compared to the previous year, the disposal rate of fresh produce has doubled, exposing the vulnerabilities in the supply chain.

10. Future Outlook—A Crossroad to a "Heat-Resilient City"

New York City has submitted the "Cool Roofs 2.0" bill, which mandates adding 100,000 street trees by 2027 and requires rooftop greening. The city's Department of Transportation has announced a pilot plan to introduce high-speed air chillers in subway stations and switch vehicle paint to infrared reflective coatings. The expert group "Urban Heat Resilience Taskforce" suggests that "short-term shelters and free water distribution are not enough. Heatwave response should be integrated into housing, transportation, and energy policies." The city council is deliberating new building standards with carbon emission caps, and there is a growing movement to standardize "heat resilience" as a metric alongside the net-zero perspective.

Conclusion

In a world where extreme weather conditions like heatwaves and heavy rains strike simultaneously, the swift mobilization demonstrated by New York State and the grassroots solidarity shown by its citizens serve as a litmus test for surviving in the era of climate crisis. However, the true challenge lies in how much the city can learn and rebuild its infrastructure and community after the disaster has passed. The greeting "Stay cool" exchanged on the scorching street corners also echoes as a slogan for societal transformation to prevent global warming.