Tag Archives: nyc

Record Warm Weekend for NYC

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What a difference a week can make!  Last weekend, New York City received five inches of snow.  This weekend, as winter officially arrived, the Big Apple experienced record-breaking warmth.

On Saturday, according to the NWS, the temperature in Central Park reached 65°F – a new record high for the date.  The previous record of 62°F was set in 1923 and tied in 2011.  On Sunday, the mercury continued to soar and the city’s temperature reached a balmy 71°F.  This shattered the old record of 63°F set in 1998. The average high for this time of year in NYC is 41°F.

These unseasonably high temperatures were the result of warm winds moving into the area from the south as the jet stream retreated to the north. The mild weather is not expected to last much longer, though. Colder – even below average – conditions are expected to return tomorrow as a cold front moves into the region.

Heavy Snow Blankets NYC

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A massive winter storm stretched across the U.S. from Missouri to Maine this weekend.  In New York City, it brought us our first significant snowfall of the season.

According to the NWS, Central Park had 5 inches of accumulation.  That brings our snow total for the month up to 6.5 inches.  On average, the city usually receives 4.8 inches of snow for the entire month of December.

While we are just half way through the month, these numbers mark a substantial departure from last December’s total of only 0.4 inches of snow.

A Winter Preview for NYC

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It’s beginning to look a lot like winter in New York City.  Cold temperatures and snow have been dominating the weather for days.

On Sunday, 0.7 inches of snow dusted Central Park – the first measurable snowfall of the season. Yesterday, a second weather system brought the Big Apple a wintery mix that included 1.4 inches of snow. While this modest accumulation is nothing to write home about, it did set a new daily snowfall record for the date.  According to the NWS, the previous record of 1.3 inches was set in 1932.

The arctic air ushered in by this second system is expected to stick around for a while.  Temperatures are not likely to climb out of the 30s until early next week and more snow is possible over the weekend.

Winter officially begins on the solstice, December 21st.

NYC Monthly Summary: November 2013

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New York City was on a temperature roller-coaster this November.  We had highs that ranged from a warm 70°F to a brisk 30°F.  The chilly weather won in the end, though.  The city’s average monthly temperature was 45.3°F, which is 2.8°F below normal.

On the precipitation side of things, the city saw its first trace of snow for the season, but remained mostly dry.  While we received 3.15 inches of rain in Central Park, most of it fell during a nor’easter just before Thanksgiving.  Despite this late soaking, the city was still 0.87 inches below normal.  November is now the fifth consecutive month that NYC received below average rainfall.

Nov_Temps

Credit: The Weather Gamut

Nov_rain

Credit: The Weather Gamut

High Winds and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

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The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a long-standing holiday tradition in New York City.  This year, high winds could ground the event’s famous giant character balloons.

According to city guidelines, the multi-story balloons cannot fly if there are sustained winds in excess of 23 mph or gusts above 34 mph.  The current forecast for Thanksgiving Day expects winds close to this threshold.  Parade organizers say they will monitor the weather conditions and consult with the city on Thursday morning to decide if the balloons can fly and at what height.

While the parade marches in rain or shine, high winds are a serious threat to the massive balloons and the crowds of spectators that line the route.  In 1997, gusty winds sent the “Cat in the Hat” balloon careening into a light post, which caused debris to fall on parade goers, seriously injuring one person. Following this incident, a mayoral commission established the wind regulations currently in place.

With or without balloons, the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is scheduled to begin at 9 AM on Thursday morning.  Happy Thanksgiving!

“Hello Kitty” Balloon floats down Broadway as part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.                         Image Credit: 1000cutethings.com

First Taste of Winter in NYC

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New York City is experienceing its first taste of winter this week.

A deep dip in the jet stream has ushered in cold arctic air and brought the city its first freeze of the season.  Overnight, temperatures dipped down to 29°F.  That is 13°F below average for this time of year.

The chilly air also produced the Big Apple’s first snow of the season.  Flakes filled the air early Tuesday, but nothing measurable accumulated on the ground. It is interesting to note, nonetheless, that this was the latest arrival of the city’s first snow since 2009.

This winter preview, according to the local forecast, will not last long.  Temperatures are expected to rebound to more seasonable levels by the weekend.

Normal High is 55°F

Normal High is 55°F

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

NYC Monthly Summary: October 2013

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October was warm and dry in New York City this year.  With all but ten days posting above average readings, the city’s overall monthly temperature was 60.2°F.  That is 3.2°F above normal.

In terms of precipitation, NYC was unusually dry.  We only received a meager 0.36 inches of rain, which is 4.04 inches below normal.  This makes October 2013 the city’s third driest October on record. It was also our fourth consecutive month with below average rainfall.  As a result, the city is currently listed in the “moderate drought” category on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Temps_Oct

RainGraph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Super-Storm Sandy: One Year Later

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One year ago today, Super-storm Sandy slammed the New York City tri-state area.  Despite being downgraded from hurricane status just prior to landfall, Sandy was the second costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

Coming ashore with tropical storm-force winds at high tide, Sandy caused a record 13.88-foot storm surge.  It flooded many low-lying areas, including parts of the NYC subway system.  Damaging or destroying more than 650,000 homes, the massive storm displaced thousands of people for months.  According to NOAA, Sandy claimed the lives of 159 people and caused approximately $65 billion in property damage.  The storm also knocked out power to 8.5 million people for multiple days – including most of Manhattan south of 34th Street.

Sandy’s flooding storm surge also highlighted the dangers posed by rising sea levels.  In the wake of the storm, many government agencies – at all levels – began re-evaluating their strategies for dealing with future natural disasters.  The National Hurricane Center changed its policy for issuing warnings on post-tropical storms and is developing a new storm surge warming system. New York City’s Office of Emergency Management re-drew its hurricane evacuation zones. And, the National Flood Insurance Program, operated by FEMA, began implementing new policy rates for homes and businesses in flood prone areas.

While the arduous process of rebuilding is ongoing, progress has been made across the region.  Recovery levels vary by location.

Looking at Climate Change through the Arts

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Art and science are joining forces to expand the public conversation on climate change. In New York City, throughout October and November, the science and impacts of our changing climate will be explored through various artistic lenses as part of Marfa Dialogues/NY.

This festival of events will include art exhibitions, installations, musical performances, and panel discussions throughout the city – all of which will be open to the public. Organizers say by bringing the creative community together with scientists and other experts, “the result is a more accessible public exploration of a complex but critical issue.”

This multi-venue event is presented by Ballroom Marfa – a cultural arts center in West Texas – and its partners The Public Concern Foundation and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Growing out of the Marfa Dialogue held in Texas last autumn, these three groups expanded the idea and brought it to NYC.  As we approach the first anniversary of Super-storm Sandy, New York City will no doubt offer a poignant backdrop to these projects and events.

For a list of participants and a calendar of events, visit http://www.marfadialogues.org.

Weather History: NYC October Snowfall

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October is not a month known for snow in New York City.  That said, it is not unheard of.

On this date back in 1979, snowflakes filled the air in the Big Apple.  Nothing accumulated, but it marked the earliest trace of snow on record for NYC.  According to the NWS, measurable snow, defined as 0.1 inches or more, has been recorded four times during the month of October.  The earliest occurred on October 15, 1876 when 0.5 inches was noted in Central Park.  The record for accumulation is 2.9 inches, which came down during the snowstorm of October 29, 2011.

While there is no snow currently in the forecast, the first nor’easter of the season is working its way up the coast. It is expected to bring the city rain, wind, and overall grey conditions during the next few days.