New Yorkers Enjoy Unseasonable Warmth: What to Expect as Weather Shifts

Residents of New York City are enjoying an unexpected warm period that has interrupted a prolonged chill not experienced since 1982. However, this pleasant weather is temporary, as temperatures are predicted to drop again by the end of the week.

According to Matt Benz, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, the city will experience highs reaching 70 degrees on Tuesday, with temperatures remaining in the mid-60s on Wednesday. By week’s end, however, expect a decline to the mid-50s or even lower.

The outlook for Thursday suggests a peak of 57 degrees accompanied by possible rain showers, while Friday’s temperatures are set to fall to 48 degrees. As the weekend unfolds, temperatures will hover around the mid-50s.

“It will be cooler compared to the beginning of the week, but temperatures will still remain above average for this time of year through Thursday, and again over the weekend,” Benz explained.

This recent spell of unexpectedly warm days, which began on Sunday, ended a Central Park streak of 118 consecutive days with temperatures below 60 degrees, Benz added.

Such a lengthy period of cold weather had not been recorded since 1982, he pointed out.

The longest streak of sub-60 degrees days ever recorded was 151 days, which took place in 1877, according to Benz.

The warm weather won’t come back by next week, and things will actually be even chillier by the middle of next week, the meteorologist said.  

Temps might only reach as high as 39 degrees by next Wednesday and stay in the 40s the rest of next week, according to the extended forecast.

The average temperature for early March is around 47 degrees, while the end of the month is 55 degrees, according to AccuWeather.

The Big Apple has faced an unbearably frigid winter, including nearly 10 straight days of below-freezing weather and two major snowstorms that battered the five boroughs.

Public-school students were even treated to a rare snow day as a result of the piles of snow.

The first official day of spring is March 20.