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Heat Wave Leaves Manhattan Sizzling

By Adam Nichols | June 8, 2011 7:35am | Updated on June 8, 2011 2:33pm

By Ben Fractenberg

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — The city was in full sizzle mode Wednesday as near record temperatures led into a heat wave baking the city.

The mercury is expected to touch 95 with high humidity — with no relief in sight. The heat is not expected to dip below 78 until after midnight, and Thursday's got more mercury-topping temperatures expected to get up to 97 degrees.

"We are all telling the kids to drink lots of liquids," said Kim Moore, 45, who was helping to chaperone 32 sixth graders who made a trip to the city from Vermont. "Some of them are wilting." 

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory and a air quality alert, meaning the air will be thick with smog and pollution.

Children try to escape high temperatures.
Children try to escape high temperatures.
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DNAinfo/Simone Sebastian

Wednesday's temperature matches the highest temperature ever recorded on June 8, which was in 1933, according to the Weather Underground.

Officials sought to get the word out about cooling centers located all over the city, including some of Manhattan's public space like libraries, senior centers and community centers.

Experts advised anyone without an air-conditioned place to spend the day to travel to the closest cooling center, and to drink plenty of liquids throughout the day.

Anyone who believes they may be suffering heat stroke is urged to call a doctor immediately or go to the closest emergency room.

Symptoms of heat illness include hot, dry skin, cold, clammy skin; weakness; dizziness; nausea or vomiting; shortness of breath or trouble breathing; confusion and hallucinations, experts warned.

A list of Manhattan's cooling centers is available the Office of Emergency Management’s website.