102 Degrees in Central Park Sets Record

We have a record. The mercury hit 102 degrees in Central Park around 12:45 p.m., eclipsing the all-time high for July 22 of 101 degrees, set in 1957, the National Weather Service said.

The heat index, taking into account the humidity, is 115 degrees, the weather service said.

It is, as ever, hotter in Newark: 104 degrees, shattering the 1957 record, which was also 101 degrees.

With power consumption on track to shatter records, too, the region’s utilities are begging customers to do what they can to reduce the power load, by setting air-conditioner thermostats higher — at least 78 degrees — and turning off any unnecessary appliances.