New York City Weather Archive

Today in New York Weather History: May 21

 

• 1985 - Heavy rain fell between 4-10PM, amounting to 1.60".  During one 15-minute period (between 5:55-6:10 PM), 0.48" of rain thundered down.

 

• 1996 - This was the second day in a row with a record high as the mercury topped out at 93.  The next 90-degree day wouldn't be for another two months (and it was the only other such day of the summer.)  

 

• 2002 - This was the last of four consecutive days with morning lows in the chilly low 40's, well below the average low of 55.

 

• 2012 - After four days in a row of sunny and mild weather, today was a gray, rainy Monday.  1.40" of rain fell, with a particularly heavy downpour occurring during AM rush hour, with 0.57" measured between 8-9:00.

 

• 2013 - Today was the second 80-degree day of the year, coming six weeks after our first 80-degree reading (4/9).  This was the greatest number of days between the first and second 80 in eight years, when there was one of 45 days.  (The longest gap in the 1970-2013 period was 51 days, which occurred twice, in 1989 and 1981.)  Today's high of 86 degrees was the warmest reading since the first week of September 2012.  

Today in New York Weather History: May 17

 

• 1989 - 3.35" fell during a rainstorm that began the previous day.  Rain fell for twenty-nine consecutive hours and ended shortly before 9:00 this morning.  Today's rain total of 1.09" was a record for the date, a relatively low amount for such a designation.

 

1991 - Today's high was 83, the seventh day in a row with a high temperature of 80 degrees or warmer.  The average high during this week was 84, thirteen degrees above average. 

Today in New York Weather History: April 24

 

• 2001 - After soaring to 87 degrees in the early afternoon (the warmest reading of the month), a cold front moved through and by midnight the temperature had fallen to 52.  The colder air was made even chiller by winds gusting between 30-40 mph.  This was the third day in a row with 80-degree temperatures, and today's high was the warmest in more than eight months (since August 9).  This was also the warmest reading in April in ten years,

 

• 2011 - With a high of 80 (sixteen degrees above average), this was the warmest Easter Sunday since 1976 (when the high was a sizzling 96!).  However, showers between 6-9PM put somewhat of a damper on the day.  The 0.50" of rain that fell was the most on Easter Sunday since 1996.   

Today in New York Weather History: April 22

April 22 is the average day of the year's first 80-degree reading.  In the years 1979-2012 it has occurred as early as March 13 (in 1990) and as late as May 23 (1984 and 1988).

 

• 2000 - This was the third day in a row of nearly identical, chilly highs and lows: 49/44, 50/44 and 49/44 (today).

 

• 2001 - Today was the first of 26 days in a row with no measurable rain in Central Park, the second longest stretch of rainless days in the 1979-2012 period.  (The longest dry streak in this period was 35 day set two years earlier.)

 

• 2006 - My summer share out at Fire Island began this weekend but I didn't go out because a whole lot of rain fell over the course of two days, 1.23" today and 2.34" tomorrow.  This was the most rain from one storm in six months.  It was also very chilly as the high only reached 47, sixteen degrees below average.  This was the second year in a row in which opening weekend was a washout.

 

• 2012 - A steady light rain during the daytime hours turned heavy after dark and was whipped around by gale force winds as a powerful nor'easter made itself known.  The brunt of the storm was felt from 8:00-midnight and conditions greatly improved by 2AM.  The 2.89" of rain that was measured in Central Park was greater than the paltry rainfall of the previous nine weeks.  Of the storm's total, 2.45" fell today and was a record for the date. 

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Today in New York Weather History: April 20

90-Degree Weather in New York During April

Just like 80-degree weather is rare in March, the same is true in April with 90-degree temperatures.  Since 1970 there have been only thirteen 90-degree readings; they've occurred in seven years: 1976, 1977, 1990, 1991, 2002, 2009 and 2010.

 

The most noteworthy of April's early scorchers were those that occurred in 1976 and 2002.  They were mirror images of each other as both occurred in the middle of the month (beginning just a day apart), lasted three days and had the same temperatures: 91, 92 and 96 (and an 89-degree day as well).  Details of all 90-degree days follows:

 

• April 17-19, 1976 - When this startling 3-day heat wave began, there hadn't been a 90-degree reading in April since 1962.  This heat wave encompassed Easter weekend, with the hottest day falling on Easter Sunday, when the mercury soared to a sizzling 96 degrees - 33 degrees above average.  (By contrast, six days earlier the AM low had been a shivering 25 degrees.)  This would be the hottest reading of the year.  After another 90-degree reading on 4/19, the next 90 wouldn't be for another seven weeks. 

• April 12, 1977 - This was the first time New York experienced 90-degree readings in consecutive Aprils.  And it occurred four days earlier than last year.  After an AM low of 50, the temperature soared to 90, one of the greatest diurnal jumps in NYC weather history.  At the time, this was the earliest 90-degree on record (later topped in 1991 and 2010).

• April 27-28, 1990 - On 4/27 the temperature rose 40 degrees, from 51 to 91 (similar to the jump on 4/12/77, above).  The next morning was much milder, 69 degrees, but the temperature bounce was more typical, up to 90.  There would be only ten more 90-degree days for the rest of the year, with the next not until July 4.

• April 8, 1991 - The high of 90 degrees broke by four days 1977's previous record for earliest date for a 90-degree temperature.  This was the first of a record setting thirty-nine 90-degree days (later tied in 1999). 

• April 16-18, 2002 - This 3-day heat bubble began one day earlier than the 3-day heat wave of 1976.  High temperatures on these days were 92, 96 and 91.  On 4/17 and 4/18, the respective low temperatures were 74 and 76 (which would be well above average as high temperatures).  And on 4/19 the high "cooled down" to 89.  I remember this hot spell very well because the previous week I decided to take my air conditioner out of the bedroom to have it reconditioned for the summer.  As a result, I had no a/c during this stifling week.  After this torrid spell, a chilly pattern set in and there wasn't a 70-degree high until May 5.  And the next 90-degree reading wouldn't be until June 26.    

• April 26 and 28, 2009 - This happened to coincide with the first weekend of my summer share in Fire Island.  What makes this early heat noteworthy is the fact that it preceded New York's coolest summer since 1927.  After 4/28's 90-degree high, the next 90-degree reading wouldn't be until August.

• April 7, 2010 - With a high of 92 degrees, this became the earliest date for a 90-degree reading.  And there would be thirty-six more hot days to come in what would be New York's hottest summer on record.

 

Finally, while April is more likely to have 80-degree days than March, they are still infrequent, occurring, on average, on just one or two days (and one out of three have none).  The most 80-degree days that have occurred in April since 1970 is five, in three years.  

Glancing Back at New York Weather: April 9

Only April 1 is more likely to have rain than April 9.  During the period 1979-2012 precipitation has fallen in 19 of the 34 years.

 

• 1979 - A coastal storm lashed the area during the afternoon with rain and gale force winds.  High temperature was only 41 degrees, seventeen degrees below average.  This fine day happened to be my first day at my first job out of college, in the Media department at ad agency Scali McCabe Sloves (on Third Avenue).   

 

• 1980 - 3.42" of rain fell, with nearly two inches falling in a 3-hour span between 5-8 PM.  It was an especially inopportune time for so much rain because it happened during New York's 11-day subway strike (April 1-11), which forced many commuters, like myself, to walk to and from work.

 

• 1981 - It was a delightful day for the Yankees home opener as the afternoon high topped out at 75 degrees, seventeen degrees above average.   

 

• 1996 - Hard to believe today's Yankee home opener wasn't postponed as the temperature was in the upper-30's and wet snow fell throughout the game.  (This was a week after their season opener in Cleveland was snowed out.)  Since the air temperature remained above freezing very little of the snow accumulated (0.3" was measured in Central Park).  Happily, the Yankees beat KC 7-3.

 

• 1998 - 1.86" of rain fell (2.15" when counting rain that continued into the wee hours of the following day).

 

• 1999 - A steady light rain fell between noon-6PM, resulting in the Yankees home opener being called after 7 innings, with the Yankees in the lead 12-3.  Not only was it rainy but cold as the temperature fell all day.  By game time it was down into the mid-40's - quite a change from yesterday's 80-degree weather.

 

2000 - One day after the high temperature reached 71 degrees, 1.2" of snow fell during the morning - the final snowfall of winter.  The day's low of 30 was the coldest reading of the month. 

 

• 2001 - A passing cold front produced a 30-minute downpour in which 0.43" of rain fell between 6:45-7:15 PM.  Earlier in the afternoon the temperature topped out at 78 degrees, the first 70-degree reading of the year and the warmest temperature since October 3.  (The Mets played their home opener this afternoon, but at Shea Stadium temperatures were cooler, in the mid-60's.)  By contrast, yesterday's high had been just 45.  

 

• 2003 - For the ninth year in a row precipitation fell on this date, a cold rain that amounted to 0.30".  The high/low of 39/35 was thirteen degrees below average. 

 

• 2007 - The Mets home opener was played under sunny skies, but chilly temperatures, as the high of 49 was nine degrees below average.  The morning low of 32 degrees was the the last time the temperature dropped to freezing in the month of April. 

 

• 2013 - One day after the year's first 70-degree reading (73), the first 80-degree reading occurred (82).  This was about two weeks earlier than average for this temperature level (while the first 70-degree reading was about two weeks later).  The day had a desert-Southwest feel to it as the humidity in the afternoon was below 20%.

A Look Back at New York City Weather: April 8

 

• 1986 - After showers at daybreak the sun came out and for the second year in a row the Yankees home opener was played with temperatures in the mid-70's.  And like last year, the Yankees won.

 

• 1991 - Today's afternoon high was a sizzling 90 degrees, a record for the date and the first of thirty-nine 90-degree days this year (a record number of days which would be tied two summers later).  It was also NYC's earliest date ever for a 90-degree reading until 2010 (when the mercury hit 92 on April 7).  Today also happened to be the Mets home opener, played in the afternoon heat.    

 

• 2003 -  Yet another cold beginning to the Yankees season.  This game tied the snowy one of 1996 as the coldest home opener in the 1979-2013 period and was played one day after four inches of snow fell.  The temperature at game time was just 37, twenty-one degrees below average, and more typical of mid-winter.  As a result just 33,000 showed up for the game as opposed to the usual 55,000 sell-out. 

 

• 2007 - Today was Easter Sunday and it was the coldest since 1940 as the high was only 41 after a frosty morning low of 30.

 

 

• 2011 - The Mets home opener was played in gray and raw conditions with afternoon temperatures well below average (high of 49 degrees).  This was quite a difference from last season's home opener which was played under sunny skies and with temperatures in the 70's.

 

• 2012 - It was a sunny and pleasant Easter Sunday, with a high of 67, nine degrees above average.

 

• 2013 - With a high of 73, today was the first day of the year with a temperature in the 70's.  This was the first 70-degree reading since October 15, a gap of 176 days, which was the 3rd longest span between 70-degree readings in the 1979-2013 period.  The longest span was 196 days in 1983/84 (Nov. 14-April 26) and 189 days in 2002/03 (Oct. 7-April 15).  The typical number of days is 137 (Nov. 9-March 25).   

A Glance Back at New York Weather: April 2

 

• 1986 - Today was the last of an 8-day stretch in which temperatures averaged 13 degrees above average - including back-to-back afternoon highs of 78 on March 29 and 30.  Average high/low during these days was 72/51.

 

• 2001 - Today's weather for the Yankees' home opener was very similar to last year's game as the high was a chilly 49 under mostly overcast skies. 

Looking Back at New York City Weather: April 1

Of all the days of the year, April 1 and September 26 are the days most likely to have rain.  In the thirty-nine years since 1975, rain has fallen in twenty-two of them.  (The typical day has had precipitation fall in ten of the years.) 

 

• 1978 - A high of 82 degrees (26 degrees above average and one degree shy of the 1917 record) would make this the warmest day of the entire month - and the next 80-degree day wouldn't be for another seven weeks (May 19).

 

• 1993 - 0.52" of rain fell in a 60-minute period between 5:53-6:53 AM and 0.87" poured down in the two hours ending at 7:48 AM.

 

• 1998 - 1.78" of rain fell today, with 1.16" of it coming down in a two-hour period between 6-8PM.

 

• 2008 - The Yankees' home opener was rained out yesterday but today was dry.  Under mostly cloudy skies, game-time temperature was a mild 67 degrees (eleven above average) as the Yankees won their eleventh home opener in a row.   

 

• 2012 - 0.51" of rain fell today, making this the 14th time in the past seventeen years that it's rained on this date. 

Today in New York Weather History: March 31

In the period 1979-2012 the average date of the final low temperature of freezing or colder is March 31.  It has occurred as early as March 16 (in 1999 and 2005) and as late as April 17 (in 1980). 

 

• 1997 - A nor'easter with 30-45 mph wind gusts dumped 2.32" of rain in New York and record amounts of snow in New England on the following day (25" in Boston, 18" in Providence).  A few days earlier NYC had been warned of the potential for significant snow accumulation as well, but too much mild air moved in.    

 

1998 - Today's high temperature hit 86 degrees, tying March 29, 1945 for the warmest reading ever recorded in March.  This was the last day of a 5-day spring "heat wave".  During this warm spell the average high/low was 82/61, twenty-six degrees above average.  The next 80-degree day wouldn't be for another six-and-a-half weeks (May 15).  Today also happened to be the home opener for the New York Mets (which they won in 11 innings over Philadelphia). 

 

• 2003 - Five years later the Mets weren't as fortunate playing their home opener again on March 31.  Although the game was played under clear skies, the temperature hovered around 40 degrees and a biting wind created a "feels like" temperature of 30 degrees.  No surprise that this was the coldest Opening Day in the 1979-2012 period.  To make it even worse, the Mets were pounded by the Cubs by a score of 15-2.

 

2011 - This was the earliest date for a Yankees home opener and it was played in raw and damp conditions.  The high was only 43 degrees, twelve degrees colder than average.  After morning showers, no rain fell during game time but showers resumed in the evening.

 

• 2012 - Because today was cold (high of 43/low of 38) and rainy, two March records were NOT set.  The month's mean temperature ended up at 50.9 degrees, 0.2 degree below the 1945 record, while the morning's rainfall of 0.26" brought the month's total precipitation to 0.96", preserving March 2006's distinction as driest March on record (0.80").  Still, this was the twelfth month in a row with above average temperatures, matching a 12-month streak in 1998-99.  Furthermore, this was the driest Jan-Feb-March since 1985.