New York City Weather Archive

Looking Back at New York's Weather: May 27

 

May 27 is the average date of New York's first 90-degree temperature.  Since 1970 it's happened as early as April 7 (in 2010) and as late as July 14 (in 1985).

 

 

1950

With a high of 77° this was last of three days in a row with highs in the 70s.  It was also the first time it happened this year - the deepest into a year of any year since 1940 (thru 2019).

1961

Today was one of the chilliest days on record for late May as the high was only 47°, twenty-seven degrees below average - more typical of the second week in March; the AM low was 41°.  Conditions were raw and damp, with light rain falling throughout the day, amounting to 0.61".  Before the cold and rain moved in yesterday afternoon, the temperature had risen to 78° at 12:30PM (and followed a high of 85° two days ago). 

1974

It was an overcast and chilly Memorial Day, with a high/low of 55/52.  The afternoon high was 19 degrees below average and is the chilliest high temperature on Memorial Day since it became a Monday holiday in 1971.  Despite the cloud cover, there was no rain.

1991

Today was Memorial Day and the high of 89° was the hottest reading on the holiday since 1969 (later tied in 1999).  Well after dark thunderstorms between 10AM-2AM dropped an inch of rain, the first rain in two weeks.  This was also the thirteenth day this month to see a high in the 80s, the most of any May on record (and the last four days of the month would also get into the 80s).  This record would hold until 2015.

 

2001

Although just 0.08" of rain fell, it was the first rain to fall on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend in eleven years.

2013

It was a glorious Memorial Day, with crystal clear skies and afternoon temperatures in the mid-70s.  However, this was the first Memorial Day since 2005 not to have a high in the 80s.

2018

The temperature fell from 80° at around 1AM to the upper 50s by the time evening approached.  This was a day after the high reached 89° and the heat index was 93°.  Today's much chillier air was ushered in by morning rain which amounted to 0.44".  Additionally, the afternoon was windy, with winds gusting to 25 mph.

Save

Looking Back at New York City Weather: May 26

 

1925

This was the third day in a row with a low in the low 40s.  The low on the 25th was a record (that still stands).  This came after a high of 91° on 5/23. 1961

After the day's high of 78° was reached at 12:30 PM, the temperature dropped quickly upon passage of a cold front and the arrival of rain.  By 2:00 the temperature was down to 60° and by midnight it had fallen to 47°.  1.11" of rain fell, with 0.42" falling in the storm's initial hour between 1 and 2PM.  (An additional 0.61" fell the next day.)

1970

This was the thirteenth day of the past fifteen to have rain.  In total, 3.27" fell, with the greatest daily amount, 0.93", falling today from strong thunderstorms between 3-7:30PM.

1984

A brief, but severe, thunderstorm struck in the early evening on what was the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.  Just 0.11" of rain fell but there was extensive tree damage.  Before the storm struck it was warm and humid, the warmest day of the month (high/low of 85/66).

 

2001

This was the seventh day in a row in which the high temperature failed to reach 70°.  The average high during these days was just 61°, twelve degrees cooler than average - quite a contrast from the first four days of the month, which had an average high of 90°.

 

2003

We were stuck in an unseasonably cool pattern that was similar to the one two years earlier.  Today, and the previous four days, were 11 degrees cooler than average.  Two days had a high/low of 56/50 and two others were at 56/51.  Not only was today cool, but rainy as well, with 1.28" of rain measured (the most precipitation in a 24-hour period since the big snowstorm on President's Day).  

 

2010

Under clear skies the temperature soared to 92°, making this the hottest day of the month.  At 11PM it was still 85°.  And the full moon was shining beautifully. 

 

 

2014

Today was Memorial Day and conditions were very summery as the high reached 86° after a low of 66°.  This was the eighth time in the past nine years that the temperature on Memorial Day rose into the 80s (last year, with a high of 73°, was the exception).  Since 2006 the average high on the holiday has been 84°, ten degrees above average. 

2015

With a high/low of 88/67 today was the warmest day of the month, which would end up being the second warmest May on record (behind 1991).  Today was also the beginning of the sixth week in which less than an inch of rain fell in total (going back to April 21).  

2016

Under sunny skies the temperature reached 90° for the first time this year.  It came the day before the average date of the first occurrence of this temperature.  However, because afternoon humidity was around 25% the "feel-like" temperature was 86°.  Interestingly, last May, which was the second warmest on record, had eighteen days in the 80s (including ten between 85° and 88°), but none were in the 90s.

2017

For the fourth day in a row the low temperature was 56°, which was at the seasonal average.

2018

Today, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, was very warm and humid, with a high/low of 89/72.  This was the fourth day this month with a high of 88° or hotter, making this the first May with this many days this hot since May 2000.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Today in New York Weather History: May 25

 

1967

It was a raw and damp day with a high/low of only 46/42.  Winds out of the northeast gusted between 25 and 30 mph, producing wind chills close to 32°.  Light showers and drizzle fell throughout the day (0.32" was measured).  The day's high, 27 degrees below average, was more typical of the second week of March.

 

 

1975

This afternoon's temperature was in the upper 50s, one day after a sizzling high of 93°.

1986

The weather was very nice for New Yorkers when they formed their part of the "Hand Across America" chain this afternoon.  Skies were partly cloudy and the high temperature reached 80°.

1987

It was a very cool Memorial Day as the high of 63° was eleven degrees below average.  Weatherwise, the holiday came one week too early as temperatures would be in the 90s the following weekend.

1991

Today was Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and the day's high reached 93°, nineteen degrees above average.  This tied the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend in 1975 for the hottest reading for any day during this holiday in the 1971-2018 period. 

1994

An evening thunderstorm (including hail, a rarity in Manhattan) delayed by three hours my 8:15 flight to Pittsburgh, where I was going to help my family make arrangements for my father's funeral.  I finally arrived there shortly before 1AM.

 

2000

0.12" of rain fell between midnight-1AM, making this the eighth day in a row in which there was rain.  3.26" fell during these days.

2005

Gray skies and light showers made for a very chilly day as the high reached only 53°, twenty degrees chillier than average - and more typical of March 25. 

2007

Today, with a high of 90°, was the first 90-degree day of the year, just a few days earlier than the average date for this occurrence.  This broke a string of four years that had their first 90-degree temperature in June.

2013

Today's high/low of 54/45 made this, a Saturday, the chilliest day of any Memorial Day weekend in the 1971-2018 period.  Skies were mostly overcast, winds gusted to 33 mph hour, and light showers popped up throughout the morning and afternoon.  The high temperature was nineteen degrees below average.

 

2015

Today was Memorial Day and it was practically a carbon copy of last year's holiday, i.e., sunny and warm.  The only difference was that today's high of 85° was one degree lower than last year's.  This was the ninth year of the past ten in which Memorial Day had a high in the 80s.

 

2017

Following last week's early heat wave (highs of 90°, 92° and 9°1 from 5/17-19), the highs today and the previous five days were all below 70°.  Today, with steady light rain and drizzle, was the coolest day of them all, with a high of just 59°. Today's rainfall of 0.58" brought the month's total to 6.06", making it the second wettest May of the century (behind 2013, which had eight inches).

Save

Save

Today in New York Weather History: May 23

 

1930

After today's high of 91° the next eight days would have highs of 65° or chillier. 

1979

It was a very soggy day as 2.70" of rain fell, the rainiest day of the month and a record for the date.  Between 8-9PM 1.10" poured down.

 

1981

It was a beautiful first day of Memorial Day weekend as temperatures were in the upper 70s under clear skies.  And the next two days were equally nice - and would be even warmer.

1988

Today had the first 80-degree  reading of the year, tying 1984 for the latest date of this occurrence since 1946, when it happened on May 25.  However, despite this late date the summer would be a hot one, with thirty-two 90-degree days.

1992

This was the Saturday of what would be a Jekyll & Hyde Memorial Day weekend.  Today was scorching hot, with a high of 92°, but a drastic change would occur the next day when a strong cold front moved through.  This set up a Memorial Day that felt more like late October.  

1994

After a refreshing morning low of 56° the temperature rocketed to 91° under sunny skies - the first 90-degree reading of the year.  Today also happened to be the funeral of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, which was held in Manhattan.

 

1999

Scattered showers that fell throughout the day amounted to 0.30", the first rain on this date in 10 years. 

2013

Strong thunderstorms from 3:00 to 7PM dumped 1.81" of rain.  This brought the month's rainfall to just over seven inches, making it the wettest May since 1990.  It was also New York's wettest month since September 2011.

 

 

Save

Save

Today in New York Weather History: May 16

 

1989

Just before daybreak 0.58" of rain poured down in an hour, between 5:23-6:23 AM.  This came in the opening hours of a rainstorm (lasting through mid-morning tomorrow) that dumped 3.35" of rain (2.30" fell today).  And it came just six days after a rainstorm of 2.37".

1990

A year after 2.30" of rain fell on this date, 2.32" of rain fell today, much of it after 7PM. 

2001

This was the 25th day in a row without precipitation, making it the third longest rain free streak since 1970, passing two streaks of 24 days in Jan/Feb 1980 and in August 1995. 

2007

I celebrated my 50th birthday two days after the actual date with an dinner party at a Venezuelan restaurant in Greenwich Village.  Unlike my 40th birthday, which had beautiful weather, this year featured thunderstorms between 3-9PM that dropped 0.83" of rain.  It was a warm and muggy day, with temperatures reaching the mid-80s before the rain moved in.

 

2012

Overnight showers amounting to 0.09" made this the seventh year of the past nine in which rain fell on this date. 

2014

A light, wind-swept rain during the afternoon turned steadier and heavier after dark.  The 1.54" that fell was over before midnight (an inch poured down in the hour between 9-10:00).  This was the twelfth day of the past eighteen to see some rain, totaling a lucky 7.77".  Most of it fell today and on 4/30 (when 4.97" fell).

2015

Measurable rain fell for the first time since April 22, a span of 23 days (the longest dry spell since one of 26 days in April/May 2001).  Showers fell before daybreak and then again tonight between 8:00 and midnight, measuring 0.30".  In between, skies were overcast with temperatures rising into the mid-70s. 

 

   

Save

Looking Back at New York Weather: April 10

 

1950

For the fifth day in a row the morning low was 32° or colder.  The average low during these days was 29°, which was twelve degrees below average.

 

1974

The Mets played their home opener in equally raw conditions as the Yankees four days earlier.  Although the day started with some light snow, amounting to 0.3", it was over long before the game.  However, fans in the stands had to contend with gusty winds which made the game-time temperature in the low 40s feel like it was in the upper 20s. 

    

1980

A day after 3.42" of rain fell, today was dry and warm with afternoon temperatures in the low 70s, thirteen degrees above average.  The weather was perfect for the the Mets' home opener against the Cubs.

1983

4.31" of rain fell, with nearly 2.50" of it falling in just three hours (between 11AM-2PM).

1992

Although today's Mets home opener was twenty degrees cooler than last season's record heat, at 71° it was still twelve degrees above average.  This was also the first 70-degree day of the year - two weeks later than usual.  (This was similar to 1965's home opener, on 4/12, which was also played on the first 70-degree day of the year.)

1996

An overnight snowfall of 0.7" was the last snow of the season, bringing the winter's total to a hefty, record-breaking 75.6".  This was 48" above the average winter and came just two years after 53.4" fell.

 

2010

Three days after a high of 92°, this morning's low was 50 degrees colder. 

2013

What had been a beautiful spring day, with a high of 74°, came to a crashing end as a series of strong thunderstorms barreled through between 7-11PM.  What made them especially noteworthy was the fact that they occurred in early April.  However, despite the storm's long duration, relatively little rain fell, with just 0.49" measured in Central Park.  This was the first rainfall of the month.

 

2017

For the first time since 1988 the Yankees played their home opener in 70-degree weather.  Under mostly sunny skies the temperature rose to 74°.  And the cherry on top was a victory over Tampa Bay, by a score of 8-1.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Today in New York Weather History: March 28

 

1919

1.4" of snow fell in the afternoon, the biggest snowfall of the winter (coming two weeks after 1.3" fell).  This was the last snowfall of the winter, which had just 3.8" of snow in total - the least snow until the winter of 1973 when just 2.8" fell (and also passed by the winter of 2002).  Temperatures during the afternoon were only in the mid-20s, half of what the usual afternoon temperature is at the end of March.  

1921

After the temperature jumped from 49° to 82° between 5AM and 2PM, New York experienced its greatest one-hour drop in temperature when it plummeted 29 degrees between 4:00 and 5:00, from 81° to 52°.  The strong cold front that ushered in this cold air was accompanied by winds that gusted between 35 and 45 mph.  By midnight the temperature was down to 34° (and would fall to 26° by 6AM).  This 48-degree plunge is the greatest daily temperature drop on record.

 

1960

This was the first day during a very cold month (colder than January or February) to have an above average mean temperature.  And at 71°, this was the first day this year to reach the 70s.

1984

A developing nor'easter brought a mix of snow and rain during the afternoon that continued through tomorrow.  1.5" of snow fell today, but forecasts had predicted substantially more.  The temperature in the City was a bit too mild to support a snowstorm (high/low was 43/34).

 

1985

The afternoon temperature topped out at 78°, twenty-four degrees warmer than average and more typical for the second week of June (and four degrees warmer than yesterday).  However, this was not a record as there was an even more extraordinary warm spell in 1945. 

1991

After a seasonable high of 53° yesterday, today's high soared to 77°.

2005

My flight back to NYC from Pittsburgh after visiting my mother for Easter took eight hours because of strong thunderstorms in the New York area.  2.98" rain fell, a record for the date.  This was the biggest rain producer in six months since tropical storm Jeanne dumped 4.66" at the end of September. 

 

2012

Today's high/low of 67/44 was the sixteenth day this month with a daily mean temperature ten degrees or more above average - the most of any month since 1970 (until December 2015, which would have eighteen such days).  So far this year more one-third of the days were ten degrees or more above average. 

2013

Although the day's mean temperature was just two degrees below average, it marked the fifteenth day in a row with below average temperatures.  During this time temperatures were nearly six degrees below average.  There hadn't been a longer below-average streak since April 2007, when there was one of sixteen days.

2016

Although it was just 0.38", the rain that fell during the morning hours after sunrise (as a cold front approached) made this the rainiest day of the month.  (Between Feb. 25 and yesterday, a span of 32 days, less than an inch of rain fell.)  Then late in the afternoon very high winds began buffeting the area with gusts between 40 and 60 mph that continued overnight.

2018

Today, with a high/low of 52/38 (one degree below average) was the 22nd day in a row with a below average mean temperature, the fifth longest streak of this kind in the years since 1953 (the year the NWS began reporting departure from average on a daily basis).  Temperatures during this streak, however, were just 4.5 degrees below average, which is the least below average of any streak of 15 days or longer.

 

2019

Temperatures were seasonable for the Yankees' earliest home opener, but sitting outdoors in readings no higher than the low-50s is was what you might expect at a football game.  Skies were sunny, but then turned lightly overcast after the game against Baltimore ended (which the Yankees won 7-2).  

Save

Save

Save

Today in New York Weather History: March 18

 

1934

After peaking at 71° in the early afternoon (the first 70-degree reading of the year), the temperature plummeted to 30° by midnight (and 22° by sunrise on the 19th).  This was one of the City's greatest drops in temperature.

 

1956

Less than 48 hours after a snowfall of 6.7" an even bigger storm moved in during the afternoon.  By the time snow stopped falling 24 hours later 11.6" of new snow was on the ground (3.8" of it fell today).  And today's high/low was just 30/21, seventeen degrees below average.

 

1962

This was the end of a five-day period that started and ended with highs of 50° while the three days in the middle all had highs of 49°.

1967

Hard to believe, but today's high/low was a frigid 20/10, twenty-seven degrees below average, and bitterly cold even by the standards of mid-winter.  Temperatures were last above freezing shortly before noon on 3/15 (and would stay below freezing for two more days).

1973

0.2" of snow fell in the late morning, the last measurable snow of a winter that was the least snowy on record - just 2.8" fell from three snowfalls.  The previous record was 3.8" during the winter of 1918-19.

1977

The last measurable snowfall of the winter, measuring 0.6", fell at daybreak before changing to rain.  In total, the winter had 24.5" of snow, which was just about average.  Still, it was the snowiest winter since 1969-70 (which had 25.6").  

1983

3.10" of rain fell, most of it coming down between 1-9PM. 

1989

The temperature nosedived 40 degrees, from 77° to 37°.  The cold front that ushered in the sharply colder air produced a severe thunderstorm mid-afternoon that dumped 0.35" of rain in just ten minutes (between 3:14-3:24 PM).  There was also some hail, a rarity in NYC, especially in March.

 

1990

This was the last day of an extraordinarily mild eight days in which the mean temperature was 18 degrees above average (high/low of 71/47).

1993

This morning's low of 13° was the coldest reading this month, twenty-two degrees colder than average.  The last time a temperature this cold occurred in March was in 1984.

1994

2.8" of snow fell during during the afternoon, the last snowfall of the winter.  This brought the season's total snowfall to 53.2", making it the snowiest winter since 1960-61.  The day was also a cold one, with a high/low of just 33/25, fourteen degrees below average. 

 

  

2000

The morning low of 22° came two days after a high of 65°.

2004

A mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain during the morning accumulated just under an inch and was the final measurable ice/snow of the winter.  This was the second winter in a row with more than 40 inches, the first time for this occurrence since the winters of 1948 and 1949.

2011

Today's record-tying high of 77° was the warmest reading in nearly six months.

2012

Morning clouds and fog cleared in the afternoon and the high reached 63°.  Although this was thirteen degrees warmer than average, it was one of the coolest readings in the Eastern two-thirds of the country as most areas basked in temperatures between 75° and 85°.

 

2013

A wintry mix of snow and sleet moved in during the late afternoon, and by midnight three inches had accumulated.  It was the the final measurable snowfall of the winter and the most snow to fall on this date in more than 50 years.  This was significantly more snow than had been forecast as a changeover to rain occurred much later than predicted.  Also, with a high/low of 35/28, this was the coldest day this month - eleven degrees below average.

2018

The weekend featured clear skies and very low humidity.  Yesterday afternoon's was between 22% to 25% while today it was even lower, bottoming out at 15% during lunchtime.  Today was also the twelfth day in a row with below average temperatures.  

 

Save

Save

Save

Today in New York Weather History: December 23

 

1930

The biggest snowfall of the winter, 3.9", began this afternoon and continued through dusk on the 24th, providing a mantle of white for Christmas Day.

 

1959

Today's high/low of 23/9 (eighteen degrees below average) made this the coldest day of the winter of 1959-60.

1963

Snow began falling shortly before 3:00 PM and by midnight six inches had accumulated, with 0.3" added in the wee hours of 12/24.  The temperature didn't vary much as the high/low was 32/28.

 

1989

The morning low of 6°, twenty-three degrees below average, was the coldest reading of the month and the entire year.  With today's frigid temperatures, 1989 became the year with the most days with mean temperatures 10 degrees above or below average (based on daily records going back to 1970).

1990

It was a record-setting day as the high reached 66° after a low of 57° - a staggering 28 degrees above average - quite a change from a year ago!

1998

This was the first day since Nov. 22 to have a colder than average mean temperature.  It was also the first day this winter completely below freezing.  Today's high/low of 29/18 was in sharp contrast to the 55/42 averaged in the first three weeks of the month.

1999

Somewhat similar to this date last year, today was the twenty-first day in a row with above average temperatures.  Temperatures were seven degrees above the norm during this three-week span.

2004

A strong cold front blew through during the afternoon, producing thunderstorms with 40-50 mph wind gusts.  These storms caused extensive airport delays.  My flight to Pittsburgh, where I was going to visit my mother for Christmas, was cancelled (I rescheduled for the next morning).  Today's high of 59° came just three days after a morning low of 11°, the month's temperature extremes.  

 

 

2015

Eleven years after my flight home to Pittsburgh was cancelled due to inclement weather, it happened again!  (This time, however, I couldn't get a flight until Christmas Day so I took Amtrak.)  1.55" of rain was measured, falling just 0.07" short of setting a new record.  Most of the rain fell between 3:00 and 9:00PM.  Besides being rainy it was also mild, with a high of 64°.

Save

Save

Save

Today in New York Weather History: October 11

 

1959

This was the twenty-first consecutive day with above average temperatures.  During this unseasonably warm three-week period temperatures were 9.5 degrees above average, with an average high/low of 81/65 (more like the end of August); twelve days had highs in the 80s.  

2002

An all-day rain dumped 3.06" of rain on the City, a record for the date (and the first time it rained on this date in 10 years).  This was part of a 56-hour "rain-athon" that began the previous night and ended in the wee hours of the 13th.  In total, 4.54" fell.

 

2007

Today was the 22nd consecutive day with above-average temperatures, the longest such stretch during the autumn in the 1980-2018 period (and one day longer than the streak in the fall of 1959).  During these days temperatures were nine degrees milder than average.  A cold front moving through during the afternoon triggered storms that dumped nearly an inch-and-a-half of rain, with an inch of it falling in a two-hour period ending at 6:30 PM.

 

2010

1.13" of rain fell today, the fourth time in the past nine years more than an inch of rain fell on this date.  It was mostly an evening rainfall, with 0.77" falling between 7:00 and 8:00.  The day's high of 75° was the mildest reading of the month (also reached on 10/27).

 

2017

This was the seventh day in a row with a mean temperature ten degrees or more above average, the longest such streak in October since 2007, when there were two seven-day streaks.  (Since 1980 only one October has had a longer streak - 10 days in October 1990).  During these seven days the average high/low was 80/67, which was 14 degrees above average.  Today, with a high/low of 77/60, was the "coolest" of the seven days. 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save