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Heat wave moves into its 4th day

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

1:42 PM EDT, June 10, 2008

New York City Hit With Stifling Record Heat

A construction worker takes a sip of water during the first heat wave of the year June 9, 2008 in New York City. According to the National Weather Service temperatures will near 100 degrees today in the New York metro area with no relief in sight until Wednesday, June 11. (Spencer Platt, Getty Images / June 9, 2008)

Just one more day.

The scorching temperatures that have smothered the New York City metro area are expected to break on Wednesday, but people have to get through Tuesday first. For the fourth day, the metro area is expected to face scorching temperatures well into the 90s. The National Weather Service warns that the humidity could make it feel like it is 105 degrees.

Weather-related outages are already affecting homes and business in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Westchester County. Consolidated Edison says more than 1,700 customers are without power. The Long Island Power Authority reports 580 power outages.

Some suburban schools were being dismissed early.

William Walker was already sweating at 8 a.m. as he delivered cases of drinks.

The last couple of days have been hard. "I drink plenty of Gatorade; I just sweat a lot," he said. He was looking forward to cooler temperatures.

"As long as the weather goes down, I'll be glad. If not, I think I'll visit Alaska." The temperature hit a record 99 at La Guardia Airport on Monday.

Central Park was 96, one degree shy of the record for June 9, set in 1933.

New York City offered 300 cooling centers; Putnam, Westchester and Rockland counties, to the north, had them as well. City Office of Emergency Management spokesman Chris Gilbride said that on Saturday and Sunday, 3,500 people visited the centers. Libraries and shopping malls also were recommended for relief.

Lisa Burke of Oyster Bay, Long Island, took the train in to Penn Station and waited in a block-long taxi line rather than walking the half-mile to the Jacob Javits Convention Center, where she was headed.

"If it were more pleasant I would walk," she said. "I want to arrive at my destination looking cool and composed." Not everyone was bothered by the heat. Isabel Hernandez-Holstein still looked fresh after finishing her morning run.

"Well, I'm from Miami, so this is nothing. Here, at least you have shade," she said, gesturing to the blocks-long shadows cast by Manhattan's skyscrapers.

Things didn't go quite as well in her Tai chi class in Bryant Park. The instructor cut the session short, unable to continue as the temperature climbed into the high 80s.

"She said, 'I'm sorry. It's just so hot,"' Hernandez-Holstein said.