New York City hit 90 degrees on Wednesday, breaking an 85-year-old record for April 15 and turning Central Park into the warmest spot in the city at about 2:15 p.m. The previous mark for the date was 87 degrees, set in 1941.
Matt Benz said Thursday was expected to stay hot, with a high of 89 degrees, before Friday cooled to 80. After that, the nyc weather pattern was due to swing back hard, with temperatures likely dropping into the 50s and 60s over the weekend and into Monday, then falling into the 50s on Monday and Tuesday. For New Yorkers who had recently been shivering through a historically brutal winter and a recent cold snap, the warm spell was an abrupt change, even as Wednesday evening brought the risk of stormy weather in Westchester County, including strong winds and downpours.
Benz said the warmth was being driven by stormy weather across the western US and a large ridge of high pressure. He said that setup was favorable for warmth in the Northeast, but only for a short stretch. “This weekend, it’s back to a more April-like reality,” he said. “It will feel much cooler.”
The bigger picture is that the city’s run of unseasonably high temperatures is not expected to last. Benz said the rest of the month should largely return to average April readings in the 60s, and he warned of a sharp reset early next week. “We do have a cold shot on Monday and Tuesday,” he said. “That will be a shock to the system after the heat.”