Tag Archives: spring

After Record Warmth, Spring Started on a Wintry Note in NYC

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The first day of spring brought a mix of flowers and snowflakes to New York City this year.

After the Big Apple’s second warmest winter in history and a recent stretch of record warm days, many trees and flowers have already started to bloom – early by local standards. But, for the official start of the spring season, temperatures fell and snowflakes filled the sky. While only a trace of accumulation was measured in Central Park, the frosty conditions were a jarring reminder to many New Yorkers, who had acclimated to the warm temperatures, that March is a transitional month known for changeable weather in the northeast.

The high temperature on the Equinox was 43°F, which is 8°F below average and about 20°F below readings from just a few days ago. It is also interesting to note that the first day of spring was colder than this past Christmas. But, that tells you what type of winter it has been this year.

Looking ahead, temperatures are expected to rebound to above average levels over the next few days.

Christmas was warmer than than the first day spring in NYC. Credit: WG

Christmas was warmer than the first day spring in NYC. Credit: WG

Sheep's Meadow in Central Park is dusted with snow on the first full day of spring. Credit: Central Park Conservancy.

Sheep’s Meadow in Central Park is dusted with  snow on the morning of the first full day of spring.  Image Credit: Central Park Conservancy.

Vernal Equinox 2016

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Today is the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. The new season officially began at 4:30 UTC, which is 12:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time.

Our astronomical seasons are a product of the tilt of the Earth’s axis – a 23.5° angle – and the movement of the planet around the sun. Today, as spring begins, the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun. This position distributes the sun’s energy equally between the northern and southern hemispheres.

Since the winter solstice in December, the arc of the sun’s apparent daily passage across the sky has been moving northward and daylight hours have been increasing. Today, the sun appears directly overhead at the equator and we have approximately equal hours of day and night. The word “equinox” is derived from Latin and means “equal night”.

As a transitional season, spring is a time when the chill of winter fades away and the warmth of summer gradually returns.  The most noticeable increases in average daily temperature, however, usually lag the equinox by a few weeks.

Earth’s solstices and equinoxes. Image Credit: NASA

Earth’s solstices and equinoxes. Image Credit: NASA

A Spring Preview in NYC

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The calendar says March, but it felt more like May in New York City today.

The temperature in Central Park soared to 77°F, setting a new record high for the date. It crushed the old record of 69°F that was set in 2000.

The last time the city saw a temperature in the 70s, oddly enough, was on Christmas Eve. But, that tells you how warm this winter has been. Last year, the first 70°F reading did not show up until April 15th. Our normal high for this time of year is 47°F.

Another record could fall on Thursday if the temperature climbs above 74°F. The forecast high is 76°F.

The primary driver of this unseasonable warmth is El Niño. Acting with global warming as a backdrop, it has produced a large ridge in the jet stream over the eastern part of the country that is allowing warm air from the south to flow further north than it normally would in early March.

Cooler conditions are expected to return by the weekend, but temperatures will still be above average for this point in the season.

Spring has Arrived in NYC

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After a cold and snowy winter, birds are chirping and flowers are starting to bloom in New York City. More than three weeks after the vernal equinox, spring has finally sprung!

With a high temperature of 72°F in Central Park, today was the warmest day the city has seen all year.  It has not been this warm in the Big Apple since October. Our normal high for this time of year is 61°F.

Spring Flowers in NYC Garden

Spring Flowers in NYC Garden.  Credit: The Weather Gamut

NYC Monthly Summary: March 2015

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March 2015 was a bit of a weather rollercoaster in New York City. We had highs ranging from a chilly 27°F to a relatively balmy 62°F. In the end though, with 23 out of 31 days posting below average readings, the cold won out. The extended cold snaps helped lower the city’s mean temperature for the month to 38.1°F, which is 4.4°F below normal. That makes March 2015 the coldest March the city has seen in 31 years.

In terms of precipitation, March 2015 was unusually snowy. In fact, according to the National Weather Service, it was NYC’s 6th snowiest March on record. The city measured 18.6 inches of snow in Central Park, which is a staggering 14.7 inches above average. We even had snow falling on the first day of spring.

Rainfall was also abundant. The city received 4.72 inches, which is 0.36 inches above average for the month.

Credit: The Weather Gamut.

Credit: The Weather Gamut.

A Snowy Start to Spring in NYC

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Spring got off to a cold a snowy start in New York City this year. The high temperature on the Equinox was 38°F, which is 13°F below average. The first day of the new season also brought snowfall to the Big Apple with 4.5 inches accumulating in Central Park. Month to date, the city has measured 18.6 inches of snow. March, on average, typically brings NYC a modest overall total of 3.9 inches.

Snow falls on the Spring Equinox in NYC

Snow falling on the Spring Equinox in NYC, March 20th at 6:45PM.                        Image Credit: The Weather Gamut.

Vernal Equinox 2015

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Today is the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. The new season officially begins at 22:45 UTC, which is 6:45 pm Eastern Daylight Time.

The astronomical seasons are a product of the tilt of the Earth’s axis – a 23.5° angle – and the movement of the planet around the sun. Today, as spring begins, the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun.  This position distributes the sun’s energy equally between the northern and southern hemispheres.

Since the winter solstice in December, the arc of the sun’s daily passage across our sky has been moving northward and daylight hours have been increasing. Today, the sun appears directly overhead at the equator and we have approximately equal hours of day and night. The word “equinox” is derived from Latin and means “equal night”.

As a transitional season, spring is a time when the chill of winter fades away and the warmth of summer gradually returns. The largest increase in average daily temperature, however, usually lags the equinox by a few weeks.

Earth’s solstices and equinoxes. Image Credit: NASA

Earth’s solstices and equinoxes. Image Credit: NASA

The Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun on the Vernal Equinox. Image Credit: NASA

The Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun on the Vernal Equinox. Image Credit: NASA

Warmest May on Record for Planet Earth

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This past May was fairly warm across most of the United States, including here in New York City. The average temperature for the Earth as a whole, however, soared into the record books.

According to a report released on Monday by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, May 2014 was the warmest May ever recorded for the entire planet.  Earth’s combined average temperature for the month – over both land and sea surfaces – was 59.93°F.  That is 1.33°F above the 20th century average. May 2014 also marked the 351st consecutive month that our global temperature was above its long-term norm.

The report also noted that four of the five warmest Mays on record have occurred in the past five years: 2010 (second warmest), 2012 (third warmest), 2013 (fifth warmest), and 2014 (warmest); 1998 holds fourth place. Additionally, it highlighted the fact that this past meteorological spring (March, April, and May) was the planet’s second warmest on record. For the same period, only 2010 was warmer.

Year to date, 2014 is currently ranked as the Earth’s fifth warmest year on record. Global temperature records date back to 1880.

2014_05

Image Credit: NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center

April Snow for NYC

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Spring sprung in New York City this weekend, but winter weather came fighting back overnight.  Following multiple days with temperatures in the mid-70s, many New Yorkers were surprised to find a light coating of snow on cars and sidewalks this morning.

The dramatic cool down – caused by a large mass of cold air moving in from Canada – was accompanied by rain that turned into a wintry mix overnight.  With the temperature plummeting into the 30’s, the NWS issued a freeze warning for the city and surrounding area.

Snow in April is not unheard of in the Big Apple.  On average the month brings us 0.6 inches.  That said, as the month progresses, the chance of snow decreases.  The latest measurable snowfall on record for NYC is April 25, 1875 when 3 inches accumulated in Central Park.

New Yorkers Bask in Spring Warmth

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After a long snowy winter, New Yorkers have finally emerged from hibernation.  With temperatures soaring well into the 70s all weekend, the city’s parks were filled with people enjoying the balmy spring weather.  The normal high in NYC at this time of year is 60°F.

New Yorkers enjoying a warm spring afternoon on the Sheep's Meadow in Central Park. Image Credit: The Weather Gamut.

New Yorkers enjoying a warm spring afternoon on the Sheep’s Meadow in Central Park. Image Credit: The Weather Gamut.