New Yorkers, don’t let the sudden sunshine fool you. While we’re about to enter a “False Spring” so intense it’s expected to shatter 576 temperature records across the country, Mother Nature is already planning a cold-blooded encore.
According to the latest NOAA data, a massive ridge of high pressure is acting as a “heat shield,” sending NYC temperatures soaring near the 70s by Tuesday, March 10. It’s the “drinks outside?” text we’ve all been waiting for—but you might want to keep your puffer coat within arm’s reach.
☀️ The Week Ahead: A Slight Taste of Summer
Starting Sunday, March 8 (the same day we gain an extra hour of evening light!), the city will begin a 96-hour sprint into summer:
- Sunday, March 8: highs of 62°F—a 15-degree spike from Saturday
- Monday, March 9: highs hit 65°F with bright sunshine
- Tuesday, March 10: the peak–we’re looking at a high of 68°F with partly sunny skies and a RealFeel of 69ºF
- Wednesday, March 11: still mild with a high of 66°F, though you may want to keep an umbrella handy for light afternoon rain
Considering the average high in New York City is typically 47–51ºF in March, next week will feel significantly warmer than what we’re used to this time of year.
😎 Why is this happening?
According to data from NOAA and analysis by The Washington Post, an air mass from the Caribbean is surging up the East Coast.
Nationwide, at least 80 million people are expected to see temperatures hit the 80s at some point next week, with over 224 locations potentially breaking high-temperature records.
😰 The “Arctic Blast” Boomerang
The downside: there will be some atmospheric chaos, including a Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event. While it’s currently pushing that tropical air our way, it’s also causing the Polar Vortex to “split.”
Forecasters warn that once this initial heat surge passes, the door will be left wide open for Arctic air to dump back into the Northeast. By Friday, March 13, we’ll be back in the 40s, and long-range models suggest late March could bring a return of the “Polar Vortex” vibes that defined our brutal January.
The silver lining: the NOAA notes that the impacts won’t “feel” as strong as they did in January since temperatures are warmer this time of year.
🌸 The Bottom Line
Of course we’re not trying to skip spring–we New Yorkers know that while Mother Nature subjects us to brutal winters, brutal summers are also very much a thing. But with that being said, we’ll certainly welcome a temperature warm up with open arms.
The Secret NYC Tip: Get your park hangs in between Monday and Wednesday! By next weekend, you’ll be back to ordering delivery and complaining about the wind chill.
