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Heat Wave To Get Worse On Monday

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It was another hot and muggy day Sunday, as a heat wave slamming the Tri-State entered its fourth day.

The high in Central Park reached a balmy 94 degrees and it's not expected to get any better Monday. CBS2's Vanessa Murdock reported the high is expected to be 93 tomorrow, but since the humidity levels will be rising, it will feel like 100 to 105 degrees.

The heat left around 1,100 residents in East Harlem without power Saturday night, leaving many in a sticky situation, and many didn't get power back until 5 p.m. today, CBS2's Ali Bauman reported.

"All night. All night. Sweating. Sleeping. Naked on the bed. Sweating like a dog. Windows open," resident Orlando Hernandez said.

"I couldn't run my air conditioning last night, it was very humid, one resident told 1010 WINS' Roger Stern. 

Con Edison say a manhole fire caused the four-block power outage around 7 p.m. on Saturday, and even though workers were drilling night-and-day, power didn't begin to be restored until late Sunday afternoon.

"When we lose a large area like this, it's a step-by-step process to try to put it back to not cause more overloads or further damage to the system," Con Edison section manager Caroline Iskander said.

Some tried to distract from the discomfort by going for walks, as others sat out and preserved their energy, but almost all dreamed about sleeping with the cool air blasting on their faces.

"First thing I do when I get power back on is put on the AC at 66 and watch some bad TV," Laura McDonald said.

However, Con Edison is warning customers against doing that.

"Lower their ACs to about 73 degrees and when they're not home, don't put them on and try to conserve during key times of the day," Iskander said.

Con Edison said everyone should be back to power by Monday morning.

On Sunday, Con Edison had to cut back energy use by 8 percent due to ongoing equipment issued in the Riverdale in the area. The advisory affects roughly 31, 654 customers.

Con Ed says they are planning to bring in extra staff to help handle the heat on Monday, which is forecast to have highs in the mid-90s, WCBS 880 reported. The company is asking customers to modify their power use for the next few days.

Both have deployed extra repair crews across the region to be ready for any outages or equipment damage.

People in Yonkers took in a movie to keep cool.

"Well, my fiancee's in a movie right now, my son just finished his movie, so I'm gonna go sit inside the AC and wait. It's just unbearable, it's thick and hot and you just can't breathe," Lisa Beaubien told WCBS 880's Stephanie Colombini.

Triathletes jumped into the warm Hudson river for a race Sunday morning, taking on a 1,500-meter swim before biking up the West Side highway.

MORE: Heat Advisories In Effect | Forecast & Alerts | Video ForecastHot Weather Safety Guide

"I chose a different helmet --one that has more vents to keep a little cooler," athlete Cecilia Davis told CBS2's Magdalena Doris. "But I think there's definitely a rish of heat stroke out there."

Officials cut the triathlon from 10K to 8K to avoid putting the nearly 4,000 participants at risk for heat-related exhaustion and illness.

It's not just the Tri-State that is experiencing over-the-top temperatures. Americans in 26 states are struggling with heat warmings and advisories.

Area hospitals are also reporting a spike in heat-related illnesses, especially in children and the elderly.

"I would just take more frequent breaks, stay in the shade, get cool," Dr. Matthew Aucutt said.

If you are spending the day outside, remember to stay hydrated and to reapply sunscreen frequently. Experts are also asking those staying indoors to use air conditioning as needed, to avoid potential blackouts.

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