1991 & 1993 Have Most 90-Degree Days, But 2010 Is Tops In Another Heat-Related Category

It seems that New York has a lot of days with highs of 89°.  Looking into it further I discovered that one year, 2010, had so many of these days that they enabled it to take top honors in a less celebrated heat-related category. 

Although 1991 and 1993 share the record for most 90-degree days in City history, with thirty-nine each, if days in which the high reached 89° are added, 2010 comes out on top.  That year had a dozen such days.  Added to its thirty-seven 90-degree days, the year's total of 89°+ days comes to forty-nine.  That puts it ahead of 1991, which had forty-eight such days (39 + 9); 1993 lags behind with "just" forty-three these days (39 + 4).  This was a reason 2010 ended up having New York's hottest summer of all time. 

And if days with highs of 88° are added, 1993 trails not only 1991 and 2010, but 1988 and 1983 as well.  (For now I've stopped the analysis at days with highs of 88°.)   

 

 

 

Comments

[William]

It's also interesting to note, although rare, there have been 4 years on record (1871, 1873, 1963 and 1985) that haven't had a single 89° day. the latest first 89° day is September 7, 1998. if we have one between now and 7/28 it'll be the latest since 2006. if the first 89° day occurs between 7/29 and 8/20 it'll be the latest since 2004 (8/20 was the only such day in 2004). of course i mention this cause it's obviously been a while since we've gone this far into the year without Central Park having an 89° day. i'm surprised that just about every surrounding weather station had at least 1 such day but none so far have been reported in NYC.

[Rob]

Fewer 89-degree highs = fewer days of angst caused by just missing 90!