Adapting to Extreme Heat in New York State
Extreme heat is severely affecting the health and well-being of New Yorkers across the state and is the leading cause of death among hazardous weather events in the United States, according to the National Weather Service. Climate change is increasing the severity, duration, and frequency of extreme heat events in New York State, which in turn causes more severe heat-related impacts.
Learn more about the impacts of extreme heat in a changing climate by reading the summary report “Extreme Heat in New York State” (PDF).
Extreme heat impacts occur unevenly across New York's communities and are worsened by socio-economic, environmental, age- and health-related conditions, and other factors that increase risks, especially for vulnerable groups. People of color, Indigenous Peoples, unhoused people and people living in institutional settings, older adults, infants and children, pregnant people, and people with chronic illnesses are especially at risk. Vulnerability to extreme heat is also influenced by race and ethnicity, socio-economic status, and language proficiency.
Learn more about heat-health risks on the DOH website.
Also, be sure to check out the "DEC Does What?!" podcast episode on extreme heat.