NYC May Be in the Middle of Longest Heat Wave Since 2002

New York City is on track for the longest heat wave since 2002, according to the National Weather Service. The city is in the middle of an eight-day heat streak that began last Thursday and isn't expected to let up until Friday.

"There has been no break for the air conditioners," said David Robinson, a climatologist at Rutgers University. While it's not unusual for the mercury to spike this time of year, he said temperatures for the past week have been about five degrees hotter than normal. "It's like adding insult to injury," he said.

Of course, high energy bills aren't the only thing to worry about in this weather. Heat waves also pose a risk to human health, though high temperatures alone aren't enough to cause heat-related illness. The real culprit, said meteorologist Gary Szatkowski, is prolonged exposure: "If you have a heat wave that goes for three, four, five days, that becomes more dangerous, even if the numbers aren't getting any higher."

Until it's over, Mayor Bill de Blasio is urging New Yorkers to check on vulnerable neighbors twice a day, especially the young and elderly. Addresses of city cooling centers are available by calling 3-1-1.