Tag Archives: nyc

A Look Back at Winter in NYC

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The phrase, winter warmth, may seem like an oxymoron, but it was the theme of this past season across much of the U.S.  Nationally, it was the fourth warmest winter on record. Locally, in New York City, the season ranked as our second warmest ever with an average temperature of 40.5°F in Central Park.

A highlight of this meteorological winter was the city’s warmest February on record, which registered an average temperature 5.9°F above normal.  These mild temperatures, in turn, meant very little snowfall. Including the pre-season snowstorm at the end of October, the city only saw 7.4 inches of snow, which is 13.5 inches below normal.

Record warm spring temperatures are now following our unseasonably mild winter.

Graph Credit: MF at The Weather Gamut

Yo-Yo Temperatures in NYC this Week

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The temperature reached 71°F in New York City yesterday afternoon.  That is 24°F above normal.  I had to remind myself that it is still, technically, winter.

Overnight, however, a cold front moved through, bringing temperatures back to more seasonable levels.  These relatively cool conditions will not last long, though.  The forecast is calling for a return to above average temperatures in the mid-60’s by early next week.

The infamous yo-yo temperatures of March seem to be in full swing.

Note: Data for 3/10 is based on forecast temperature.

Graph Credit: MF at The Weather Gamut

Monthly Summary: February 2012

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February 2012 was unseasonably warm in New York City.  In fact, it was our warmest February on record with an average temperature of 40.9°F.  That is 5.9°F above normal. The eight days we experienced with temperatures at or above 50°F helped break the old record of 40.6°F which was set in 1984 and tied twice in 1998 and 2002.

In terms of precipitation, the city was rather dry this month.  We received 1.37 inches of rain, which is 1.84 inches below normal. February is usually our snowiest month with an average of 8.8 inches accumulating.  This year, however, we only saw a paltry 0.2 inches.

Given these spring-like conditions, can we blame the flowers in Central Park for blooming early?

Graphic Credit: MF at The Weather Gamut

Monthly Summary: January 2012

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January is typically the coldest month of the year in New York City. This year, however, it was unusually mild with an average temperature of 37°F, which is 4°F above normal.  These numbers reflect the eleven days we had with temperatures above 50°F.

Overall, the city was fairly dry this month with only 3.23 inches of rain. That is 0.42 inches below normal.  In addition, we only had one snowstorm that left us with 4.3 inches of snow. On average, January usually brings us about 7.0 inches of snowfall.

In contrast to this month’s mild and quiet conditions, recall January 2011.  It was cold with an average temperature of 30°F, which is 3°F below normal.  It also brought us 36 inches of snowfall and earned the title of the “snowiest” January on record.  This winter, the Jet Stream has been staying north bringing us relatively warm and dry conditions…at least so far.

First Snow of 2012 in NYC

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On Saturday, New York City received 4.3 inches of snow in Central Park.  This was our first significant snowfall of the season.  The city’s last measurable snowfall was back in October during a surprising pre-season snowstorm.

This winter has been relatively mild, so it was exciting to finally see some snow on the ground.  The local forecast, however, is calling for a major warm up this week.  As a result, this snow will not last long.  However, with more than two months left to the winter season, I am guessing that the snow will be back before long.

Central Park's Lake frozen and covered in snow.

The Sheep's Meadow in Central Park covered by a blanket of snow.

Photo Credit: MF at The Weather Gamut

Weather and Art: Crossing the Delaware

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“Washington Crossing the Delaware” by Emanuel Leutze, is an iconic image of the American Revolution. The weather depicted in the painting, however, may not be accurate.

A new version of this celebrated subject by artist Mort Künstler explores some of these inaccuracies.  Through the research of historical documents, Künstler learned that the actual crossing took place under the cover night and in the midst of a nor’easter.  The artist also learned that the troops and equipment were probably transported on flat-bottomed ferries attached to cables that helped stabilize them in the storm.  Depicted in more realistic conditions, the painting’s main subject is still a determined George Washington.  However, it shows the general in the pragmatic posture of holding on to a cannon as he braces himself against the elements, which included strong winds, snow, and freezing rain.

Leutze created his better-known image in 1851, seventy-five years after the courageous events of December 1776.  His painting is an artistic interpretation that emphasizes the heroic status of General Washington. This is evident in the way he portrays the general illuminated by sunlight and standing tall in a rowboat as he crosses the icy Delaware River. The shape of the ice, in fact, is another questionable aspect of this classic painting. When frozen, the Delaware tends to form broad sheets of ice as opposed to the chunky crags that Leutze chose to illustrate.

After four years of renovations to its American Wing, the Metropolitan Museum Art returned Leutze’s work to public display earlier this week.  Künstler’s new painting entitled, “Washington’s Crossing: McKonkey’s Ferry, Dec. 26, 1776”, was unveiled at the New York Historical Society last month.

Emanuel Leutze's 1851 "Washington Crossing the Delaware"

Image Credit: Emanuel Leutze via Metmuseum

Mort Künstler's 2011, "Washington's Crossing: McKonkey's Ferry, Dec. 26, 1776”

Image Credit: Mort Künstler via AP

A Brief Blast of Winter

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Earlier this week, New York City was sent into a deep freeze.  After a very mild December, winter finally found us, if only for a short while.

This arctic plunge brought the city its coldest air of the season to date. Temperatures remained below freezing for two consecutive days. Wednesday marked our coldest day since late January of last year with a low temperature of 13°F.

This cold weather, however, did not last long.  Warmer air returned by the end of the week and temperatures quickly rebounded to above average readings.  This warm weather is very odd for January.  Nonetheless, the local forecast is calling for a continuation of these spring-like conditions into next week.

We will have to wait for the Jet Stream to dip south again for winter to return.

Graphics Credit: MF at The Weather Gamut

December Summary

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December 2011 was exceptionally warm for New York City.  In fact, this was the city’s 5th warmest December on record. The average high temperature for the month was 43.3°F. That is 5.3°F above normal.

The winter solstice arrived on December 22nd with a balmy high temperature of 58°F.  The normal high for that day is 41°F.

In terms of rainfall, the city finished exactly average with 4.0 inches of rain. The real precipitation story, however, was snowfall … or more accurately, the lack of it. We normally see 4.6 inches of snow by the end of December, but this year there was none. This is a huge departure from the same time period last year, when the city received 20.1 inches of snow.  What a difference a year can bring!

2011: A Year of Wild Weather

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As 2011 comes to a close, there is no doubt that it has been an extraordinary year in weather.  We saw the full gamut of wild weather, both here in New York City and across the United States.

Locally, in NYC, we had a variety of exceptional weather events.  January became the snowiest month on record with 36 inches of snow.  Our second hottest day of all time came on July 22nd with a high temperature of 104°F.  In August, Irene became the first hurricane to make landfall in the city in 26 years. The storm contributed to August becoming our wettest month ever, with 18.95 inches of rain.   October brought us an early season snowstorm that left 2.9 inches of snow in Central Park, a record for the month. Overall, 2011 brought us 72.8 inches of rain.  That is 22.6 inches above average and marks this year as the second wettest in city history.

Nationally, some form of severe weather impacted nearly every state in the U.S. this year. This included blizzards, tornadoes, drought, wildfires, flooding, extreme heat, and hurricanes. According to NOAA, a new record for “billion dollar weather disasters” was set in 2011 with one-dozen extreme events. These twelve natural disasters alone are reported to have taken 646 lives and caused $52 billion worth of damage.

What a year it has been!

Cleopatra’s Needle: A Weathering Study

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The New York City Parks and Recreation Department recently announced plans to study the effects of the city’s weather on Cleopatra’s Needle, an ancient Egyptian obelisk in Central Park.

The red granite monument stood in Egypt’s dry desert climate for more than 3,000 years before being sent to New York as a gift in 1881.  The obelisk has been enduring the city’s freeze-thaw cycles and acid rain ever since.  As a result, chemical weathering has taken a toll on the Needle’s four stone faces.  Many of its hieroglyphics have been worn away.  In fact, only two sides are still readable.  The west and south faces of the monument seem to be the most weathered, perhaps because the majority of storms arrive in the city from these two directions.

Cleopatra’s Needle, in addition to being a wonderful piece of world heritage, is now taking on the role of environmental laboratory.  Through the city’s study, we will learn more about the underlying causes and rates of weathering on the stone.  This data will, hopefully, inform the plan for the obelisk’s preservation moving forward.

Cleopatra's Needle in Central Park, NYC

Photo Credit: huelsmann.eu