Tag Archives: nyc

Chilly St. Patrick’s Day in NYC

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A longstanding tradition in New York City, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade has marched in all types of weather.  This year, with temperatures in the mid-30s, parade goers had to wear a few extra layers of green.

While today was unseasonably chilly, it was not the coldest St. Patrick’s Day the city has experienced. That dubious honor, according to the NWS, is shared by both 1916 and 1967 when the high was only 26°F.  The warmest was in 1945 when the temperature soared to a balmy 75°F.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Image Credit: Stutz

Image Credit: Stutz

Volatile March Temperatures in NYC

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Up and down and back again, this was a volatile week for temperatures in New York City. Overall, it felt like we were on a weather roller-coaster.

On Tuesday, the high temperature in Central Park was a balmy 66°F – the city’s warmest day of the year so far.  Two days later, we were reminded that it is still winter when the mercury only made it to 32°F.  Today, the temperature rebounded to 58°F, but it is forecast to tumble into the mid-30s again tomorrow. Our normal high for this time of year is 49°F.

As jarring as they may be, these large temperature swings are par for the course in March. Transitioning from winter to spring, warm air in the south is expanding quickly while cold air lingers in the north.  As a result, temperature gradients can be very tight and local conditions can change abruptly.

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Rising Waters: Photographs of Sandy – An Exhibition at MCNY

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Super-storm Sandy wreaked havoc on the greater New York City area in late October 2012.  Documenting this historic and catastrophic event, the Museum of the City of New York, in collaboration with the International Center of Photography, organized the exhibition, Rising Waters: Photographs of Sandy.

Presenting more than two hundred photographs in both color and black and white, subjects range from the storm itself to the physical devastation and personal loss left in its wake. Organized into six sections – Storm, Destruction, Home, Coping, Relief, and Not Over – the exhibition includes images from both professional and amateur photographers.  Many of these contributors, according to the museum, were personally impacted by the storm.

Opened on Sandy’s first anniversary, the exhibition runs through April 6, 2014.  For more information, visit www.mcny.org.

"Once Again", an image from Rising Water: Photographs of Sandy at the MCNY. Image credit: Amy Medina.

“Once Again”, an image from “Rising Waters: Photographs of Sandy” at the MCNY.                      Image Credit: Amy Medina/MCNY.

NYC Monthly Summary: February 2014

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February is generally the snowiest month on the calendar for New York City, and this year it was extreme.  With 29 inches of snow accumulating in Central Park, it was the city’s second snowiest February on record.  First place belongs to February 2010, with 36.9 inches.  On average, we typically get 8.8 inches of snow for the entire month.

Rainfall was also abundant in NYC this February. We received 5.48 inches, which is 2.39 inches above average.

In terms of temperature, the Big Apple was unusually cold. Overall, we had 11 days where our high temperature did not get above freezing.  While we also had a few unseasonably warm days, the extended periods of extreme cold brought the city’s average monthly temperature down to 31.7°F.  That is 3.3°F below normal.

Feb_TempsGraph Credit: The Weather Gamut

An Early Spring Preview

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This weekend, much of the eastern United States is enjoying a welcome relief from what has been a long and brutal winter. Temperatures are soaring well above average across the region making it feel like spring.

In New York City, the high temperature in Central Park reached 54°F yesterday and it is expected to climb into the mid 50s again today.  Last Sunday, the mercury only made it to 30°F.  Our normal high for this time of year is 43°F.

With feet of snow on the ground, these mild conditions have caused rapid melting throughout the area.  Although this has caused ice to fall from tall buildings and some localized flooding, many winter-weary New Yorkers are enjoying this early spring preview.

This warmer weather can be easy to acclimate to, but it is still February and winter is not letting go just yet. Cold conditions, including another arctic outbreak, are expected to return over the next few days.

The first patches of green lawn appear on Central Park's Green Meadow as temperatures soar and snow melts. Image Credit: The Weather Gamut.

The first patches of green lawn seen in weeks on the Sheep’s Meadow of Central Park are revealed as temperatures warm and snow melts.    Image Credit: The Weather Gamut.

Another Snowstorm Slams NYC

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A massive winter storm walloped the East Coast of the United States yesterday.  The impacts of snow, sleet and freezing rain were felt from Georgia to Maine.

Here in New York City, the storm came in two parts.  The first round brought us 9.5 inches of snow.  Coming down at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour, it piled up quickly.  Following a lull in the afternoon, round two produced heavy rain, thunder and lightning, and another 3 inches of snow.  In the end, this classic nor’easter dumped 12.5 inches of heavy, wet snow in the Big Apple.

So far this February, the city has received 25.7 inches of snow.  On average, we usually get 25.1 inches for the entire winter. This season, to date, we have accumulated 54 inches of snow in Central Park, making it our 9th snowiest on record.

More snow is forecast for the weekend.

A Wild Week of Wintry Weather

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Coming on the heels of a very snowy January, a series of winter storms slammed the midwest and northeastern U.S. this week.  From snow to sleet to freezing rain, the region saw a bit of everything.

Here in New York City, Monday’s storm dumped 8 inches of heavy, wet snow in Central Park – setting a new daily snowfall record. Only two days later, another weather system brought the Big Apple a wintry mix that included 4 inches of snow topped with about 0.25 inches of ice.

These two storms brought the city’s monthly snowfall total up to 12 inches and it is only the first week of February.  On average, we usually receive 8.8 inches for the entire month. Overall, local snowfall has been running above average this winter season with 40.3 inches of accumulation to date.

While more snow is on deck for the weekend, NYC is not expecting significant accumulation, contrary to earlier reports.

Groundhog Day 2014

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Today is Groundhog Day, the midway point of the winter season.

On this day, according to legend, the weather conditions for the second half of winter can be predicted by the behavior of a prognosticating groundhog.  If the groundhog sees its shadow after emerging from its burrow, there will be six more weeks of winter.  If it does not see its shadow, then spring will arrive early.

In New York City, our local weather-groundhog is Charles G. Hogg – more popularly known as “Staten Island Chuck”.  Earlier this morning, he saw his shadow and is predicting  another six weeks of wintry conditions for the Big Apple.

On the job since 1981, Staten Island Chuck’s “forecasts” have been correct about 82% of the time.

Staten Island Chuck, the resident weather groundhog at the Staten Island Zoo. Image Credit: SILive

Charles G.Hogg, VII – the resident weather groundhog at the Staten Island Zoo in New York City.    Image Credit: SILive

NYC Monthly Summary: January 2014

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January is typically the coldest month on the calendar for New York City and this year it was brutal.  We experienced several arctic outbreaks and saw ice form on the Hudson River.  Overall, we had twelve days where our high temperature did not get above freezing.  While there were also a few unseasonably warm days, the multiple bouts of extreme cold brought the city’s average monthly temperature down to 28.6°F.  That is 4.4°F below normal.

In terms of precipitation, the Big Apple was very snowy with 19.7 inches of accumulation recorded in Central Park. On average, January usually brings the city a total of 7 inches of snowfall.  According to the NWS, January 2014 is now ranked as NYC’s 8th snowiest January on record.  Rainfall, however, was lacking.  The city only recieved 2.57 inches, which is 1.08 inches below normal for the month.

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Eighth Snowiest January for NYC

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Snow was abundant in New York City this month.  In fact, it was one of our top ten snowiest Januarys ever.

In Central Park, the city received 19.7 inches of snow this month.  That is 12.7 inches above average.  According to the NWS, that makes January 2014 the Big Apple’s 8th snowiest January on record.  It is also a significant departure from last January when the city only accumulated 1.5 inches for the month.

Data Source: NOAA

Data Source: NOAA