Post date: Jun 20, 2012 9:47:4 PM
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JUNE 20, 2012) (REUTERS) - The first day of summer came with the first heat wave of the season for the U.S. Northeast region, with temperatures reaching 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius) on Wednesday (June 20).
Summer hits New York with a mini heat wave as temperatures soar above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).
High temperatures in New York City were expected to reach 96 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius) on Wednesday and 97 degrees on Thursday before dropping to the 80s over the weekend, prompting the National Weather Service to put a heat advisory in effect until Thursday.
Average highs in New York at this time of year are about 81 degrees (27 degrees Celsius).
New York resident Michael Gural-Maiello decided that the scorching heat was a good excuse to have some quality father time in Washington Square Park with his son.
"Well use the fountain to cool off, then I think we'll hit the playground for a little while and hopefully he'll go down for a nap because I have work to do," he said.
Alice, a tourist from Belgium said that she was happy to have found the fountain.
"We are happy to have found this fountain, because it's only 12 o' clock and it's already really hot."
Others seized the opportunity to get a good tan such as James Roach.
"Got to lay with all the other lovely people, basically, and that's that," he said when asked why he was in Central Park.
According to the National Weather Service the three-day heat wave might produce record temperatures.
The current record high for June in Manhattan's Central Park is 101 degrees reached on June 27, 1966, and June 29, 1934.