Central Park Breaks 131-Year Temperature Record
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Central Park was among several New York locations that hit a new record for the coldest high temperature on May 22 when a rare spring Nor'easter brought chilly weather to the Northeast.
Why It Matters
Nor'easters are powerful storms that happen more typical during the winter months when they bring heavy snowfall that, when coupled with strong winds, can cause blizzards. Because it occurred late in the season, snow wasn't much of a threat when the storm hit, but the Nor'easter did plunge temperatures across the Northeast until they felt more becoming of March and April.
Temperatures remain chilly on Friday even as the storm moves away from the region.
What to Know
Central Park was among several climate sites in New York that recorded its "coldest high temperature on record for May 22" according to a post on X, formerly Twitter, by the National Weather Service's (NWS) office in New York, on Friday afternoon.
Other locations within the forecast region breaking the coldest high temperature on record for May 22 include Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip, New York, and John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York.
"Yesterday, several of our climate sites recorded their coldest high temperature on record for May 22: EWR: 53°; LGA: 53°; ISP: 53°; JFK: 55° (tied). The standout was Central Park, where a high of just 51° broke the old record of 54° set way back in 1894," NWS New York wrote.
Typically, Central Park high temperatures during this time of year are 73 degrees Fahrenheit. The average low is 57 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning Thursday's high temperatures were colder than the typical low temperatures for this time of year.
However, Central Park did not set a record low temperature for May 22, NWS meteorologist Bill Goodman told Newsweek. Goodman added that a high of 51 degrees this late in May is "pretty unusual."
Temperatures will remain cool through the weekend and into Memorial Day, AccuWeather reported. Some showers, however, could disrupt Memorial Day plans for eastern New York.
When looking further into next week, Goodman said temperatures could creep above average for Central Park.
A stock photo shows a rainy spring day in Central Park, New York.
A stock photo shows a rainy spring day in Central Park, New York.
johnandersonphoto/Getty
What People Are Saying
NWS meteorologist Bill Goodman told Newsweek: "More often than not, when we have cool weather like this in late May, the summer tends to follow suit. It's a harbinger of a not quite so hot summer, but we will see."
What Happens Next?
Temperatures will creep back up to normal levels in the coming days, with average temperatures expected across New York throughout the end of the month, according to a six- to 10-day temperature outlook by the NWS Climate Prediction Center.
The precipitation outlook shows an above-average chance for rain in New York during the same time frame.
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