By: Tina Wu

The victim of the heat is unidentified, and is the only known case of death due to recent weather conditions. Medical examiners were unsure if the death was caused by heat, and say that the victim also suffered from heart disease and pulmonary emphysema. Pulmonary emphysema is a chronic lung condition. It is the widely caused by smoking, but can also result from exposure to air pollution. Pulmonary emphysema can cause airflow blockage and breathing problems. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner has not released any other information about the person.

Record-breaking temperatures everywhere

It is unusual for the temperature to be 96 degrees in New York on July 24. That record was set in 2010. Getting to 106 degrees is even harder, as occurred in 1936. Although New York didn’t surpass 106 degrees this year, it challenged the 2010 record by one degree. During that time, around 66 million people were living in what felt like 103 degrees.

Almost all of the Midwest and North Carolina are also experiencing blazing heat. Officials said on Sunday that areas of the Texas Panhandle and the Tennessee Valley are also forecasted to break records.

Richard Bann, a forecaster, said “It’s Tuesday by the time we get a push of cooler air into the Northeast and parts of Mid-Atlantic.”

Suggestions from NYC officials to their citizens

Because of the intense heat, New York City officials have given citizens tips on how to conserve energy. Some of these include “turning air conditioners to 78 degrees and unplugging appliances like television and computers.” To keep cool, the officials posted on Twitter, “You can hit the beach or head to the pool keep cool too!”