Cooling centers open throughout Brooklyn as ‘excessive’ heat warning takes effect

The National Weather Service has issued the city’s first heat advisory of the summer, advising New Yorkers to take precautions to avoid heat related illness  as temperatures climb

The excessive heat warning began on Thursday and will extend to Saturday, with temperatures set to rise above 90 degrees Fahrenheit across all boroughs.

Friday is predicted to be the hottest day yet, with the estimated heat index soaring to at least 103 degrees Fahrenheit before cooling marginally to 99 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday. 

New York City Emergency Management has activated its network of cooling centers throughout the city to help New Yorkers stay safe and cool throughout the heat wave. 

Cooling centers are air conditioned community spaces, often operated by public libraries, senior centers and NYCHA facilities, that are designed to provide some relief to New Yorkers on days where a heat advisory is in place.

“New Yorkers should prepare for serious heat this week with a heat advisory in effect starting Thursday until Saturday,” said Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday. “Let’s not underestimate the effects severe heat can have on us and our neighbors. As such, we will have our cooling centers opening to help New Yorkers stay cool. And our city’s resident can find additional ways to stay cool at NYC.gov/beattheheat. Make sure to check in on your elderly neighbors, drink water, and keep your pets hydrated.”

According to the NWS, seniors are at the highest risk for heat-related illness or death as many have a diminished ability to perspire, leading to rapid overheating. 

Infants, young children, pregnant people and people with chronic illness are also considered particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. 

Some warning signs of heat illness are hot dry skin, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, nausea or vomiting and confusion, disorientation or dizziness. Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know has any of these symptoms.

“Heat is deadly, and climate change is making extreme heat more frequent and even more dangerous, especially for vulnerable New Yorkers, so it is absolutely critical that we take care of ourselves and each other,” said Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Stay hydrated, make use of available resources to stay cool and check in on family members, friends, and neighbors, especially older and less mobile adults. It is more important than ever, with climate change clearly a public health issue, that we follow public health guidance in order to stay safe.”

Due to climate change, we are seeing more extreme heat, with the first week of July being the hottest week ever recorded globally. If climate change continues to progress, we can expect to see days of extreme heat more frequently.

“As we brace for a week of heightened heat, we are witnessing what is fast becoming our new normal — a direct repercussion of climate change. In NYC Emergency Management, we’ve adapted to these increasingly common weather extremes as part of our mission to protect our city,” shared NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “It’s crucial to remember that combating climate change demands both large-scale action and individual preparedness. I call on all New Yorkers to exercise caution and take necessary steps to lessen their exposure to these conditions.”

Find a partial list of open Brooklyn cooling centers below, or you can visit the NYC Cooling Centers interactive map or call 311 for more information. Cooling centers will be open during normal business hours for as long as the heat emergency persists — from Thursday, July 27 through Saturday, July 29. 

Cooling Center locations in Brooklyn

— Marcy Library, 617 DeKalb Ave. Mondays 10am-6pm, Tuesdays 1pm-8pm, Wednesdays 10am-6pm, Thursdays 10am-8pm, Fridays 10am-6pm, Saturdays 10am-5pm, closed Sundays. (718) 935-0032

— Crown Heights Library, 560 New York Ave. Mondays 10am-6pm, Tuesdays 1pm-8pm, Wednesdays 10am-6pm, Thursdays 10am-8pm, Fridays 10am-6pm, Saturdays 10am-5pm, closed Sundays. (718) 773-1180

— Clinton Hill Library, 380 Washington Ave. Mondays 10am-6pm, Tuesdays 1pm-8pm, Wednesdays 10am-6pm, Thursdays 10am-8pm, Fridays 10am-6pm, Saturdays 10am-5pm, closed Sundays. (718) 398-8713 

— Park Slope Library, 431 6th Ave. Mondays 10am-6pm, Tuesdays 1pm-8pm, Wednesdays 10am-6pm, Thursdays 10am-8pm, Fridays 10am-6pm, Saturdays 10am-5pm, closed Sundays. (718) 832-1853

— East Flatbush Library, 9612 Church Ave. Mondays 10am-6pm, Tuesdays 1pm-8pm, Wednesdays 10am-6pm, Thursdays 10am-8pm, Fridays 10am-6pm, Saturdays 10am-5pm, closed Sundays. (718) 922-0927

— CCNS Riverway Older Adults Center, 230 Riverdale Ave. Older adults only. Mondays-Thursdays 8:30am- 4:30pm. Fridays 8am-4:30pm, Saturdays 10am-6pm.

— Korean Community Services Flushing, 42-15 166th St. Weekdays 8:30am-5pm. (718) 886-8203

— Herbert Von King Cultural Arts Center, 670 Lafayette Ave. Monday-Friday 10am-8pm, Saturdays 8am-4pm. (718) 622-2082

NYC public pools will also be available to those looking to beat the heat, with all NYC intermediate and Olympic-size pools staying open until 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday – extending their services for an additional hour. 

The Department of Social Services issues a Code Red Alert during times of extreme heat, and during a Code Red Alert shelter is available to anyone experiencing homelessness with those experiencing heat-related discomfort can access cooling areas.

For more information on how to stay cool and safe during days of extreme heat, visit NYC.gov/health or NYC.gov/beattheheat.