Recent NYC temperatures have raised the inevitable question: when will we get a break?
While icy sidewalks and bone-chilling cold are par for the course this time of year in the city, these past few weeks have been especially challenging. From record-breaking snowfall to code blues across the boroughs, New Yorkers have already endured a lot at the hands of Mother Nature this year, and we’re only a month in.
For those dreaming of warmer days, we can assure you that they’re coming, but maybe not before breaking a record or two in the process.
❄️ Record breaking freezes?
Earlier this week, NYC was poised to hit a historic, 15 day streak of subfreezing temperatures. It seemed that our next day at or above 32° would happen this weekend, on February 7th, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Chad Merril.
This would have been the longest streak in 65 years, making it 15 days since the freeze began on January 24th.
Thankfully, we didn’t have to endure it for quite as long, but we’re definitely still shivering.
The city’s 9-day freeze streak was broken on Monday, February 2nd, with temperatures climbing to the mid 30s. That may as well have been a heatwave after what we’ve been dealing with.
☀️ Warmer days ahead
Slightly warmer temperatures may have greeted us on February 2nd and 3rd, but alas, we’ve been back below freezing since, and it doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.
At this point, the cold is expected to break and climb above freezing once again on Wednesday, February 11th, just in time to think about your upcoming weekend plans. Might we suggest swapping the sled for some sunbathing?
We’re kidding, sadly, you’ll still need that trusty puffer. But this warming is certainly welcome.
❄️ Origins of the freeze
The cause is a combination of high-pressure systems over Greenland and the western United States, funneling Arctic air down the East Coast.
Recent weather events, including a bomb cyclone and Winter Storm Fern, have already dumped heavy snow across the city while driving wind chills into dangerously low ranges. Daytime temperatures are hovering in the mid-20s, with nighttime readings dropping into the teens or even single digits, and wind chills falling below 0°F.
So what happens beyond next week, and can New Yorkers finally expect a reprieve? Forecasts suggest slight continuing in the following days after the 11th, with some temperatures even climbing to the low 40s. But until then, icy sidewalks, bone-chilling commutes, and a city bundled in layers remain the norm. If you need us, we’ll be inside until then. 🥶
This article was updated after publication to reflect more recent changes in the forecast.