Tag Archives: spring

Spring has Sprung in NYC

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The bees are buzzing, the birds are chirping and the flowers are starting to bloom. Three weeks after the equinox, it seems like spring has finally sprung in New York City.

With a high temperature of 75°F in Central Park, today was the warmest day the city has experienced all year.  The last time the mercury soared this high in the Big Apple was early October 2013.  Our normal high for this time of year is 60°F.

The mild weather is expected to last through the weekend.  Enjoy!

Magnolia tree in bloom in NYC

Magnolia tree in bloom in NYC.  Image Credit: The Weather Gamut.

Vernal Equinox 2014

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Today is the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. The new season officially began at 16:57 UTC, which is 12:57pm Eastern Daylight Time.

The astronomical seasons are produced by 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 sun has been making an apparent northward journey in our sky toward the Tropic of Cancer.  Today, it crossed the equator. This means 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 marks the end of winter’s biting chill and the gradual return of warmth.  It is often associated with the ideas of renewal and rebirth.  As such, it has long been a cause for celebration across many cultures throughout human history.

Image Credit: NASA

Earth’s solstices and equinoxes. Image Credit: NASA

Image Credit: NASA

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

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

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.

March: Lion and Lamb

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“March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb”.

This old proverb refers to March’s famously changeable weather.  As a month where we transition from winter to spring, March can often start off cold and blustery, but end warm and calm.  From the beginning to the end of the month, average daily temperatures typically increase by 10°F. Exact conditions, of course, vary from year to year.

Although the precise origins of this popular phrase are unknown, many believe it is based on the constellations.  At the beginning of March, Leo (lion) is prominent in the night sky, while Aries (sheep) begins to rise toward the end of the month.

Spring Chill for Much of the U.S.

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We are one week into  the new spring season and winter-like conditions are lingering across much of the United States.

With the polar jet stream plunging down from Canada, cold air continues to blast a large portion of this country.  Unseasonably cool temperatures have even been reported as far south as Florida.  These widespread chilly conditions, in turn, are supporting an extensive national snow cover.  According to NOAA, 48.7% of the continental U.S. is currently under a blanket of snow.  That is the largest area of coverage – for this point in the season – in ten years.

Snow_Cover 3.25.13

National Snow Cover on 3-25-2013.

Image Credit: NOAA

Vernal Equinox 2013

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Today is the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. The new astronomical season officially began at 11:02 UTC, which is 7:02 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time.

Seasons are the result of the tilt of the Earth’s axis, a 23.5° angle. Today, as spring begins, the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun. As a result, we receive approximately equal hours of day and night.

The spring equinox usually marks the end of winter’s chill and the gradual return of warmth.  This year, however, many people across the U.S. are experiencing conditions that feel more like the Dead of Winter.  These unseasonably cool temperatures are expected to remain in place for the near future as the polar jet stream continues to dip south over a large portion of the country.

A frosty start to spring in NYC

A frosty start to spring in NYC

Image Credit: The Weather Gamut

A Taste of Spring in NYC

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A winter storm lingered over much of the northeast late last week.  In New York City, it deposited 4 inches of dense, wet snow in Central Park.  In the storm’s wake, however, Spring-like conditions swept across the area.

The city reached a high temperature of 55°F on Saturday and saw all of the recent snowfall melt away.  Only two days earlier, we had a high of 38°F.  Our normal high for this time of year is 47°F.

As pleasant as this spring preview has been for many winter-weary New Yorkers, forecasters expect to see cool conditions return by the end of the week.

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.

Vernal Equinox

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Today is the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. The new season officially began at 5:14 UTC, which is 1:14 A.M. Eastern Standard Time.

Astronomical seasons are the result of the tilt of the Earth’s axis, a 23.5-degree angle. Today, as spring begins, the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun. As a result, we receive approximately equal hours of day and night.

The vernal equinox usually marks the end of winter’s chill and the gradual return of warmth.  Following our fourth warmest winter on record, however, spring conditions are already in full bloom across many parts of United States.

Image Credit: scijink.nasa.gov