After a four-day heat wave that saw a sharp spike in energy consumption, New York authorities shut down several subway lines on Wednesday over fears of power interruptions.
"Due to ongoing concerns about power supply in the Queens neighbourhoods of Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside and Woodside, NYC Transit has curtailed or suspended service on several subway lines that run in those areas at this time," the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said in a statement.
Though temperatures dipped on Wednesday after days of searing heat, the record-breaking weather has taken a toll on the public transportation system and infrastructure.
Monday saw the mercury hit 98 degrees Fahrenheit (36.6 Celsius) at LaGuardia Airport - the highest temperature registered since records started being kept in 1948 - and one of the airport's main terminals had to be shut down Tuesday after the power went out.
Electricity utility Con Edison said the spike in commercial and domestic power demand had caused problems with the main feeder cables servicing the airport. The terminal closure, which affected American Airlines and Delta Shuttle flights, left hundreds of passengers stranded.
One of New York's main subway lines servicing western Manhattan also lost power on Tuesday, grinding to a halt for one and a half hours shortly after the morning rush hour.