A sweltering heat wave is bearing down on Upstate New York, with the National Weather Service issuing a heat advisory from noon Sunday through 6 p.m. Tuesday for a wide swath of the region.
The advisory, released early Saturday morning, includes all counties across the Finger Lakes. Heat index values are forecast to soar as high as 104 degrees, creating dangerous conditions that could lead to serious heat-related illnesses.
“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat-related illnesses to occur,” the National Weather Service in Buffalo warned. Forecasters urged residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned spaces, avoid direct sunlight, and check in on vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and young children.
The alert coincides with a broader hazardous weather outlook across western New York, where forecasters are also monitoring the potential for isolated severe thunderstorms. While Friday posed no immediate threats, Saturday’s forecast included a risk of damaging winds, heavy rain, large hail, and isolated tornadoes.
The heat wave is being driven by a powerful high-pressure system expected to settle over the region through midweek. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will rise into the upper 80s and mid-90s during the day, with little relief at night as lows hover in the low to mid-70s. The sustained heat and humidity could push some locations to break or approach long-standing temperature records.
A frontal boundary is expected to arrive Tuesday, offering a potential break from the oppressive heat and triggering another round of thunderstorms. Until then, forecasters advise minimizing strenuous activity during peak heat hours and taking frequent breaks if working outdoors.
The agency also reminded residents never to leave children or pets in vehicles, where interior temperatures can become fatal within minutes.
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