Several Northeast Cities Set New Record Temperatures Amid Heat Wave

Several cities across the Northeast reported record-breaking temperatures on Thursday, as a heat wave that has covered much of the United States this week peaked in the region.

In Boston, the temperature climbed to 98 degrees Fahrenheit, surpassing a previous record of 96 set on Aug. 4 in 1928, the National Weather Service said. Anticipating high temperatures, the city’s mayor declared a heat emergency from Thursday to Sunday and opened cooling centers throughout the city.

Here are some of the other Northeast cities in which temperatures matched or surpassed previous records for Aug. 4, according to the Weather Service:

• Albany, N.Y., reached 99 degrees, breaking its record of 98 set in 1955.

• Manchester, N.H., soared to 98 degrees, breaking its record of 94 set in 1935.

• Poughkeepsie, N.Y., hit 99 degrees, breaking its record of 98 set in 1944.

• Hartford, Conn., tied its record of 96 degrees, set in 1928 and previously reached in 1944.

• Concord, N.H., tied its record of 97 degrees, set in 1944.

• Westfield, Mass., tied its record of 94 degrees, set in 2012.

• Scranton, Pa., tied its record of 98 degrees, set in 1930.

In New York City, the temperature reached 93 degrees in Central Park on Thursday, far short of the record of 100 degrees that was set in 1944, the Weather Service said.

The high heat and humidity did trigger a heat advisory in the city, though, and a new study released on Thursday from the comptroller’s office found that some of the hottest neighborhoods didn’t have enough public cooling centers.

The region’s heat wave was expected to ease somewhat on Friday, with anticipated highs in the mid-90s.