Context:

New York City is bracing for an intense heat wave with temperatures forecasted to rise into the high 90s and potentially exceed 100 degrees, breaking records set in 1888. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for the city from Sunday to Tuesday, predicting life-threatening conditions especially for vulnerable populations without air conditioning. Heat index values are expected to make it feel like 105 to 109 degrees, with Monday being slightly warmer than Tuesday. The city has opened over 200 cooling centers, while officials urge residents to stay hydrated and check on vulnerable family members. This heat wave is part of a larger heat dome affecting the eastern United States, with millions experiencing dangerously high temperatures across the Midwest and extending into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Dive Deeper:

• New York City's temperatures are expected to soar into the high 90s, potentially breaking 100 degrees, with heat index values making it feel as hot as 109 degrees. This would mark the first triple-digit temperature in Central Park since July 2012.

• The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning, highlighting that such weather conditions are the deadliest hazard faced by the city, particularly endangering older people and those without air conditioning.

• The anticipated high temperatures could potentially break records set in 1888, with Central Park expected to hit 98 degrees on Monday and 99 on Tuesday, while LaGuardia Airport may reach 100 degrees both days.

• City officials have set up more than 200 cooling centers and are advising residents to stay hydrated and find shelter in cooler places, with the city's indoor pools being accessible year-round.

• The heat wave is part of a larger weather pattern affecting the eastern half of the United States, with extreme heat impacting millions across the Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions.