Tag Archives: nyc

Weather and Health: Air Quality

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An air quality alert is in effect for the New York City area today.  This means our local outdoor air contains elevated levels of pollutants.

Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is responsible for monitoring air pollution across the United States.  Calculated on the Air Quality Index (AQI), a standardized indicator, the agency’s daily reports focus on the health effects people may suffer as a result of breathing polluted air. Its scale runs from 0-500 with values above 100 considered to be unhealthy.  Increasing AQI values correlate to higher levels of pollution and an escalating risk to public health.

The five major air pollutants measured on the AQI are, ground level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. These pollutants often build to unsafe concentrations when local weather patterns allow air to become stagnant from a lack of wind.

The AQI value in New York City today is 105, which references a spike in ground level ozone.  This degree of pollution will mainly impact people with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

Chart Credit: NOAA

NYC Monthly Summary: July 2012

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July is generally the warmest month on the calendar for New York City, and this year temperatures soared. We had ten days when the thermometer read 90°F or above, including July 18th when the mercury hit 100°F in Central Park.  This extreme heat helped raise the city’s average monthly temperature to 78.8°F, which is 2.3°F above normal.

In terms of precipitation this July, NYC experienced a number of severe thunderstorms, which brought much-needed rainfall to the area. In the end, however, the city only collected 4.21 inches of rain, which is 0.39 inches below normal. While not in a drought, it is interesting to note that the city has received below average precipitation for six out of the past seven months.

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Monthly Summary: June 2012

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This year, June was a roller-coaster of temperatures in New York City.  We started off cooler than normal, but warmed up toward the end of the month with two separate heat waves – periods of at least three consecutive days with temperatures above 90°F. Despite this uneven distribution of heat, the city ended the month exactly average at 71°F.

In terms of precipitation, NYC was below normal. In spite of the month’s soggy start and numerous thunderstorms, only 2.97 inches of rain was measured in Central Park.  That is 1.44 inches below average. Although the city is working with a rain deficit, we are not currently highlighted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Graph: MF at The Weather Gamut

Early Summer Heat Wave in NYC

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Summer is off to a sizzling start in the eastern United States this year. The season only officially began on Wednesday and extreme heat is already gripping the region.

In New York City, we experienced our first heat wave of the year with three consecutive days of temperatures rising to the mid-90s. The average high for the city at this time of year is 81°F.  In addition to the searing temperatures, the city also had very high humidity levels, creating oppressive conditions.  According to the National Weather Service’s Heat Index, which combines temperature and humidity readings, it felt like we hit the triple digits in the Big Apple this week.

The dramatic increase in heat and humidity in the region is the result of a dominant Bermuda High. This is a subtropical area of high pressure that ushers in hot, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico to the northeast. This sweltering weather pattern, however, is about to change. A cold front is forecast to arrive this weekend, bringing cooler, less humid conditions to the area.

Monthly Summary: May 2012

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Overall, New York City was warm and soggy this May.  Despite a cool start, we finished the month with an average temperature of 65.1°F, which is 3.1°F above normal.  The stretch of very warm days at the end of the month helped contribute to this above average reading.

Precipitation was above average as well.  The city saw 5.38 inches of rain in Central Park.  That is 1.19 inches above normal.  This was the first time we had above average rainfall since October 2011.  New York City, however, is still 5.41 inches below average for the year.  As a result, the city is currently listed as “abnormally dry” on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Graph Credit: MF at The Weather Gamut

Monthly Summary: April 2012

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April was both warm and dry here in New York City. The month ended with an average high temperature of 54.8°F, which is 1.8°F above normal. The extended warm spell in the middle of the month, which included a high temperature of 88°F on April 16th, helped contribute to the above average readings.

In terms of precipitation, April’s  famous showers were few and far between this month.  The city only received 3.56 inches of rain, which is 0.94 inches below normal.  This is the fourth consecutive month that we have received below average rainfall. In fact, the city is now in a state of moderate drought, according the NOAA drought monitor.

East Coast Wildfires

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Wildfires are usually associated with the American West.  This week, however, they dotted the east coast from Florida to Massachusetts.  Unusually dry conditions and strong winds fueled their development.

Here in New York City, a five-alarm brush fire broke out in the composting facility of the former Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island.  Winds between 15 and 20 mph fanned the flames and sent thick clouds of smoke across the highway, snarling traffic. Another large wildfire blazed on nearby Long Island.  It charred over one thousand acres of land destroying nine commercial buildings and three homes.  Fortunately, no deaths have been reported.

April is a month famous for its showers.  This year in New York City, however, they have been few and far between.  In fact, the city has received below average precipitation for the past three consecutive months. This has left us with a rain deficit of 5.66 inches. As a result, the local underbrush has been transformed into a tinderbox just waiting for a spark.

Officials say the flames of the current wildfires are still smoldering, but are mostly contained at this point.  However, until the winds subside and significant rainfall arrives, wildfires will remain a serious threat in the eastern United States.

Monthly Summary: March 2012

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Record-breaking March temperatures were seen in many parts of the United States this year. Here in New York City, it was our second warmest March on record with an average temperature of 50.9°F. That is 8°F above normal.  We missed the all time record high from 1945 by only 0.2F°.

In terms of precipitation, the city entered record territory again.  After receiving only a meager 0.96 inches of rain, which is 3.4 inches below normal, this month became our fourth driest March on record.  Snowfall was also conspicuously absent this month.  On average, the city usually accumulates 3.6 inches of snow in March.  This year, however, there was none.

March 2012 marks the third consecutive month that the city has seen both above average temperatures and below average precipitation.

Graph Credit: MF at The Weather Gamut

Weather and Health: Allergies

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Spring weather arrived early this year in many parts of the United States. Our warm winter followed by record high March temperatures triggered an early bloom for the many plants and trees that release pollen.  As a result, allergy season was off and running ahead of schedule.

Pollen is a fine powdery substance that is part of a flowering plant’s reproductive process. It is also a type of histamine that causes seasonal allergic rhinitis, also known as hay-fever. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports that roughly thirty-five million people suffer from seasonal allergies across this country.

Allergy victims even have a difficult time in the urban environment of New York City, as street trees line almost every block.  The city’s ubiquitous Norway Maples and London Planes are both major pollen producers. According the National Allergy Bureau, yesterday’s concentration of tree pollen in NYC was ranked as “high”.

The early start to allergy season this year does not necessarily mean an early end. Doctors say that even after tree pollen production slows down, grass and ragweed pollens can cause reactions for allergy sufferers until the first frost of next winter.

A Spring Chill for NYC

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After weeks of summer-like conditions, New Yorkers woke up this morning to temperatures below freezing. This cold snap is a reminder that what goes up must come down, especially when the calendar still reads March.

The city reached a high of 54°F early yesterday and then saw the temperature drop throughout the afternoon.   The dramatic cool down was accompanied by a strong north wind with gusts of 43-mph recorded in Central Park.  The wind chill made it feel like it was in the 30’s.  This frosty change is a huge departure from the record highs we saw only a few days ago.  Last week, on the first day of spring, we had a high temperature of 73°F and a low of 55°F.  Our normal high for this time of year is 53°F.

This plunge in temperature, as jarring as it may feel, has brought us back to average March conditions. Local forecasters, however, are expecting a brief warm-up followed by a return to more seasonable temperatures later this week.