Temperatures outside climbed to around 100 degrees in the city, including Central Park, which hit triple digits for the first time in over a decade.
Temperatures inside New York City Hall dipped well below the level requested by Mayor Zohran Mamdani during the ongoing heat wave, with some rooms reaching as low as 54 degrees Thursday afternoon, according to on-site readings conducted by the New York Post.
Temperatures outside climbed to around 100 degrees in the city, including Central Park, which hit triple digits for the first time in over a decade. Despite the extreme outdoor heat, multiple interior government spaces remained noticeably cool throughout the day.
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At around midday, readings taken across City Hall showed mixed but generally moderate conditions. The Rotunda, the City Council chambers, and areas near the mayor’s second-floor office registered around 77 degrees. The mayor’s press office on the first floor came in at 78 degrees at the same time.
Conditions changed later in the afternoon. By roughly 4:30 pm, temperatures in several parts of the building had fallen further. The Rotunda was recorded at 64 degrees, while areas near the press office dropped to about 62 degrees. In one room near the mayor’s office, the temperature was measured at 74 degrees.
The coldest reading reported inside the complex came from an air vent in a press radio room, which registered 54 degrees. Other city facilities nearby also showed low readings, including the CityStore inside the Manhattan Municipal Building at about 64 degrees.
Some city staffers working in other municipal offices reportedly restricted access when temperature checks were underway, though several publicly accessible areas were measured. Hallways in other city buildings, including the Dinkins Municipal Building, were recorded in the low 80s, with elevator interiors reaching higher temperatures.
The readings followed public comments from Mamdani earlier in the week urging New Yorkers to set air conditioning systems to 78 degrees or higher during peak demand periods to reduce strain on the electrical grid. The recommendation drew online criticism and comparisons to earlier guidance issued by previous mayors during heat events. The U.S. Department of Energy has similarly advised thermostat settings in the 75 to 78 degree range during summer months.
“Our City is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings, dimming/turning off our lights during peak electricity demand, asking private partners to do the same, and powering down non-essential equipment,” Mamdani posted on X.
A spokesperson for the mayor said City Hall settings were later adjusted to align with the recommended threshold after The Post’s measurements were taken. “The Mayor set the temperature at Gracie Mansion to 78 degrees yesterday afternoon,” said Mamdani spokesman Jeremy Edwards.
The temperature discrepancies came as approximately 5,000 Con Edison customers in the Bronx experienced temporary power interruptions linked to an electrical issue in Riverdale, according to the utility.
Photo of thermostat is AI-generated.
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