The first official day of summer is still a week away but New Yorkers are urged to prepare for extremely high temperatures starting Tuesday of next week, when a heat dome is expected to settle across the Northeast. 

The heat dome—which usually happens when a pocket of extremely hot air is quite literally “trapped” above a region—will bring 90-degrees-plus temperatures to New York City starting Tuesday, capping out at an expected 95 degrees by Thursday, according to the New York Post.

Although things can obviously change, meteorologists expect the temperatures to stay in the 90s all through next weekend as well. 

What is perhaps most noteworthy is the fact that New Yorkers will still be very hot when the sun sets: experts are forecasting temperatures in the mid-70s every night next week as well. 

The National Weather Service has issued a moderate risk of excessive heat warning through next Friday, June 21. 

Needless to say, we urge New Yorkers to take appropriate measures given the weather forecast: try to stay indoors or head to a cooling center if your home isn’t properly ventilated (you might even qualify for a free air conditioner!). If you must be outside, try to stay in the shade, drink a lot of fluids and avoid working out. Wearing light clothes and taking cool showers may help as well.

Time for another summer in New York!

* This article was originally published here

Earlier this week, during a press conference, Governor Kathy Hochul revealed that she is considering a ban on face masks in the city’s subway system as a result of antisemitic acts that have been committed by folks donning the coverings.

The politician revealed having already spoken about the matter with Mayor Eric Adams, specifically dissecting how the plan would be put into place and who would be exempt from the ban (think surgical masks, folks using them for health-related issues or religious beliefs).

During the event, Hochul mentioned that, earlier this week, “a group donning masks took over subway cars, scaring riders and chanting” antisemitic remarks. 

The night after, “several members [on the] board of the Brooklyn Museum had their homes vandalized,” the official also said.

Although prohibiting the use of facial coverings on the subway will not necessarily stop people from committing hate crimes, Hochul believes that the behaviors could at least partly be curbed.

“We will not tolerate individuals using masks to evade responsibility for criminal or threatening behavior,” Hochul said during the press event. “My team is working on a solution, but on a subway, people should not be able to hide behind a mask to commit crimes.”

If the measure ends up becoming law, it wouldn’t be the first time that New Yorkers will be prohibited from wearing face masks in public.

According to the Associated Press, back in the 1800s, New York officials passed similar guidelines “as a response to protests over rent” and things didn’t really change until 2020, when then-Governor Andrew Cuomo suspended the law in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, when masks were made mandatory for subway riders through September of 2022. 

Despite her intentions, Hochul also made clear that a potential ban would be difficult to craft and in need of input from a variety of different sources.

“I assure everyone, we understand how complex this issue is,” Hochul said during the conference. “And we’re just listening to people and addressing their needs and taking them very seriously.”

* This article was originally published here

A nova explosion, sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event that will “fuel the next generation of scientists,” is expected to occur sometime between now and September. So what does this really mean and how do we know about it? Let’s get into it!

What’s a nova explosion?

A nova explosion is when a white dwarf star’s intense gravitational pull causes it to absorb material from a neighboring star. This matter is then stored on the surface until the hydrogen gas pressure becomes too much and explodes.

Where will the nova explosion occur?

The nova explosion will occur among a dark spot in the “Northern Crown” better known as the binary system T Coronae Borealis (T CrB) or “Blaze Star.” It’s 3,000 light years from Earth.

How often does a nova explosion occur?

According to NASA, a nova explosion for T CrB only occurs about once every 80 years. It’s last explosion was in 1946

How do experts know a nova explosion will occur?

“Most novae happen unexpectedly, without warning,” wrote William J. Cooke, NASA Meteoroid Environments Office lead, in an email. “However, T Coronae Borealis is one of 10 recurring novae in the galaxy. We know from the last eruption back in 1946 that the star will get dimmer for just over a year before rapidly increasing in brightness. T Coronae Borealis began to dim in March of last year, so some researchers are expecting it to go nova between now and September. But the uncertainty as to when this will happen is several months — can’t do better than that with what we know now.”

Will the explosion create a new star?

The nova explosion will be so bright that it will look to the naked eye as if a new star has been created. However, that appearance of a “new star” will only be temporary as the eruption will eventually dim into disappearance.

Will the nova explosion be visible from Earth?

The expected explosion will be so bright that it should be visible to the naked eye for around a week following the explosion. To see the spectacle, try your best to identify stars Arcturus and Vega. In between those two brightest stars in the Northern Hemisphere, onlookers should be able to locate the Corona Borealis.

Is a nova different than a supernova?

Yes, a nova and a supernova are not the same thing. A supernova occurs when a large star explodes and dies. A nova however also deals with an explosion but the dwarf star remains and releases accreted material throughout space. Moreover, the intact white dwarf star can even experience numerous nova events.

The post Look Up! Impending, Rare Nova Explosion Will Soon Be Visible To The Naked Eye appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Transport yourself to the verdant countryside of Sweden without ever leaving Manhattan. On the longest day of the year, soak up the extra hours of sunshine at the Swedish Midsummer Festival in honor of the summer solstice. 

This annual outdoor celebration held on June 21 at Rockefeller Park is the largest Swedish Midsummer Festival in New York City. Expect gorgeous decor making the perfect backdrop for photos. It’s free to attend and packed with fun activities, like flower crown-making and dancing around the maypole. 

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Activities kick off at 4pm with a midsummer food court where you can purchase Swedish delicacies to fuel up before the main events start at 5pm with a welcoming serenade by flugelhorn player Oskar Stenmark.

After that, stroll through a whimsical sculpture park by Tom Otterness reimagined with Swedish flare, learn how to make traditional floral crowns, listen to fiddlers from the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, and shop from Swedish market vendors. Kids can play classic field games on the lawn.

Be sure you’re ready at 6pm for the Maypole Procession, a nostalgic celebration of the summer solstice followed by greetings from Camilla Mellander, Consul General of Sweden in New York; Raju Mann, President and CEO Battery Park City Authority; and Edward Mermelstein, NYC’s Commissioner for International Affairs. Once their remarks finish, you’ll get a chance to dance around the Midsummer Maypole with Paul Dahlin and fiddlers from the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis and Scandinavian folklorist Ross Sutter.

Finally, close out the longest day of the year with a special appearance by BROLLE Swedish singer and musician and a performance by Mademoiselle Carousel. Festivities will wrap up by 9pm.

The festivities are presented by the Consulate General of Sweden and New York and Battery Park City Authority.

* This article was originally published here