NYC winter temperatures

[uncle W]

December 1st to February 28th-29th...

season......ave temp...coldest temp...

1869-70..........34.5..........

1870-71..........30.9

1871-72..........29.3...........-1

1872-73..........28.3...........-4

1873-74..........34.0

1874-75..........27.6...........-6

1875-76..........34.1............5

1876-77..........29.8............3

1877-78..........33.3............7

1878-79..........29.2...........-4

1879-80..........38.5............7

1880-81..........26.6...........-6

1881-82..........34.5...........-6

1882-83..........28.7............1

1883-84..........30.2...........-1

1884-85..........28.6...........-3

1885-86..........30.0...........-4

1886-87..........30.2............4

1887-88..........28.7............0

1888-89..........32.7............3

1889-90..........37.9............7

1890-91..........33.4............9

1891-92..........35.7............9

1892-93..........28.4............1

1893-94..........32.2............1

1894-95..........30.3...........-4

1895-96..........33.3...........-6

1896-97..........32.7............6

1897-98..........36.5............8

1898-99..........31.9...........-6

1899-00..........33.4............5

1900-01..........31.7............4

1901-02..........32.0............8

1902-03..........32.0............4

1903-04..........27.4...........-1

1904-05..........28.1............4

1905-06..........36.7............7

1906-07..........31.7............4

1907-08..........33.3............1

1908-09..........36.7............5

1909-10..........30.5............1

1910-11..........32.5..........11

1911-12..........30.6...........-3

1912-13..........37.2..........11

1913-14..........31.9...........-5

1914-15..........34.0............3

1915-16..........32.5............2

1916-17..........31.8............0

1917-18..........25.7.........-13

1918-19..........36.6..........10

1919-20..........27.4...........-2

1920-21..........34.9............4

1921-22..........31.4...........-2

1922-23..........30.0............7

1923-24..........34.6............5

1924-25..........33.4...........-2

1925-26..........32.0............5

1926-27..........32.0...........-1

1927-28..........34.6............7

1928-29..........34.7............8

1929-30..........35.4............7

1930-31..........33.8..........10

1931-32..........40.1..........15

1932-33..........37.8..........11

1933-34..........29.2.........-15

1934-35..........31.2...........-1

1935-36..........28.3...........-3

1936-37..........37.9..........13

1937-38..........34.3............6

1938-39..........35.4............6

1939-40..........31.6............7

1940-41..........33.0..........10

1941-42..........32.9............5

1942-43..........32.2...........-8

1943-44..........33.4..........10

1944-45..........30.5............2

1945-46..........32.3............5

1946-47..........34.8............7

1947-48..........30.0............0

1948-49..........38.5..........10

1949-50..........37.5............6

1950-51..........35.9............9

1951-52..........37.0............8

1952-53..........38.1..........12

1953-54..........37.4............7

1954-55..........34.0............0

1955-56..........32.7............5

1956-57..........35.6............0

1957-58..........33.3............3

1958-59..........30.9............7

1959-60..........36.2............9

1960-61..........31.7...........-2

1961-62..........33.3............4

1962-63..........30.0...........-2

1963-64..........33.3............9

1964-65..........33.3............9

1965-66..........35.9............8

1966-67..........34.1............4

1967-68..........31.3...........-1

1968-69..........32.9............9

1969-70..........30.5............3

1970-71..........32.1............4

1971-72..........35.1............5

1972-73..........35.8............7

1973-74..........35.5............6

1974-75..........37.5..........15

1975-76..........34.4...........-1

1976-77..........28.5...........-2

1977-78..........30.3..........10

1978-79..........32.7............0

1979-80..........35.4..........10

1980-81..........32.7...........-1

1981-82..........32.6............0

1982-83..........37.9..........12

1983-84..........35.2............4

1984-85..........36.4...........-2

1985-86..........33.4............8

1986-87..........34.8............4

1987-88..........34.7............5

1988-89..........35.9............5

1989-90..........35.7............6

1990-91..........39.2..........10

1991-92..........37.2..........11

1992-93..........35.0............7

1993-94..........31.2...........-2

1994-95..........37.1............6

1995-96..........32.3............5

1996-97..........37.8............4

1997-98..........39.6..........14

1998-99..........38.7............9

1999-00..........36.2............3

2000-01..........33.5..........14

2001-02..........41.5..........19

2002-03..........31.2............7

2003-04..........32.4............1

2004-05..........35.4............5

2005-06..........37.3..........14

2006-07..........36.5............8

2007-08..........36.4..........10

2008-09..........34.2............6

2009-10..........33.8..........13

2010-11..........32.7............6

ten yr. ave...

1870's.............31.5.........................

1880's.............30.8..........-0.5

1890's.............32.8...........2.3

1900's.............32.0...........3.7

1910's.............32.0...........1.4

1920's.............33.3...........3.8

1930's.............34.0...........4.9

1940's.............33.5...........4.7

1950's.............35.1...........6.0

1960's.............32.6...........4.1

1970's.............33.7...........5.4

1980's.............34.9...........4.1

1990's.............36.4...........6.7

2000's.............35.2...........9.7

141yr ave........33.4...........4.3

30 yr ave.........35.5...........6.8

....................................................................................................................

December 1869-2010 Central Park...

there is a noticeable lack of single digit temperatures since the 1980's...

decade..ave.temp..high..low...ave.max/min..max..min...precipitation...snowfall

1870's......32.7......37.4......24.9....'.....................64......-2...2.88"...6.7"

1880's......33.6......40.0......26.5......57.3.....7.9....67......-6...3.28"...7.1"

1890's......35.9......42.3......29.9......58.8...12.0....66.......8...2.97"...4.3"

1900's......34.8......38.9......30.3......57.1...13.6....64.......4...3.95"...6.2"

1910's......34.1......39.4......25.0......59.4...10.8....64....-13...3.80"...7.5"

1920's......35.5......42.0......28.9......59.0...13.2....68.......7...3.49"...4.2"

1930's......35.9......41.0......30.0......61.2...11.7....68......-6...2.86"...4.3"

1940's......35.4......39.4......31.0......59.5...11.7....70......-4...3.39"...9.1"

1950's......36.8......41.3......29.4......59.7...12.0....67.......5...3.49"...4.7"

1960's......34.8......40.5......30.9......61.6...12.9....68.......4...3.70"...7.4"

1970's......37.4......41.1......29.9......61.6...17.6....67.......9...4.63"...1.7"

1980's......36.6......43.8......25.9......61.0...11.8....72......-1...3.14"...2.1"

1990's......39.5......43.2......32.4......64.0...16.5....75.....10...4.04"...2.9"

2000's......37.7......44.1......31.1......62.9...16.6....71.....11...4.45"...7.8"

2010's......32.8......32.8......32.8......60.0...19.0....60.....19...4.24".20.1"

LT ave......35.6......41.0......29.0......60.2...12.9....68.......2...3.58"...5.4"

30 yrs.......37.9......43.7......29.8......62.6...15.0....73.......7...3.88"...4.3"

Coldest............warmest............wettest..........Driest......

24.9 in 1876 ... 44.1 in 2001 ... 9.98" in 1973 ... 0.25" in 1955

25.0 in 1917 ... 43.8 in 1984 ... 9.77" in 1983 ... 0.58" in 1980

25.9 in 1989 ... 43.6 in 2006 ... 7.53" in 1936 ... 0.68" in 1877

26.5 in 1880 ... 43.2 in 1998 ... 7.27" in 2009 ... 0.83" in 1989

26.7 in 1872 ... 42.8 in 1982 ... 7.07" in 1969 ... 0.83" in 1985

28.9 in 1926 ... 42.6 in 1990 ... 7.01" in 1901 ... 0.98" in 1928

29.2 in 1871 ... 42.3 in 1891 ... 6.77" in 1902 ... 1.12" in 1998

29.4 in 1958 ... 42.2 in 1994 ... 6.62" in 2008 ... 1.13" in 1988

29.6 in 1886 ... 42.0 in 1923 ... 6.48" in 1996 ... 1.13" in 1896

29.7 in 1955 ... 41.3 in 1996 ... 6.33" in 1974 ... 1.20" in 1943

Warmest temperatures...

75 1998 12/7

74 1998 12/4

72 1982 12/4

71 2001 12/6

70 1946 12/10

70 2006 12/1

70 2001 12/5

70 1984 12/29

Coldest temperatures...

-13 1917 12/30

-7 1917 12/31

-6 1917 12/29

-6 1880 12/30

-6 1933 12/30

-4 1942 12/20

-3 1884 12/20

-3 1933 12/29

-3 1880 12/31

Coldest monthly max...

47 in 1917

49 in 1876

49 in 1880

49 in 1890

49 in 1926

Warmest monthly min...

26 in 1974

25 in 1984

24 in 1908

23 in 1923

22 in 1907

22 in 1918

Greatest monthly snow...

29.6" in 1947

27.0" in 1872

25.3" in 1948

22.5" in 1883

20.1" in 2010

19.8" in 2003

18.6" in 1960

15.8" in 1959

15.6" in 1945

14.9" in 1933

14.5" in 1916

Biggest snowfalls...

26.4" 1947 12/26-27

20.0" 2010 12/26-27

18.0" 1872 12/26

16.0" 1948 12/19-20

15.2" 1960 12/11-12

14.0" 2003 12/5-7

13.7" 1959 12/21-22

12.7" 1916 12/15

12.0" 2000 12/30

11.4" 1912 12/24

11.2" 1933 12/26

10.9" 2009 12/19-20

............................................................................................................................................

January

NYC climate stats from Central Park...since 1870...

Decade averages...

decade...ave...high...low...ave/ max min max...min...snowfall...precipitation

1870's...30.3...37.5...23.8.........................68...-4......9.6"......3.29"

1880's...28.7...39.6...24.7......53.5.....4.3...65...-6......9.1"......4.12"

1890's...31.7...37.6...23.7......55.0.....9.0...64...-2......8.6"......3.46"

1900's...32.1...38.4...25.3......55.2.....7.5...64...-1......8.1"......3.07"

1910's...32.4...40.9...21.7......57.1.....6.6...69...-5......5.1"......3.77"

1920's...30.5...34.0...23.4......53.9.....4.6...62...-2......8.9"......3.52"

1930's...34.7...43.2...28.9......59.9.....9.7...70...-3......6.4"......3.98"

1940's...31.0...38.6...25.0......56.2.....7.6...63....0......7.7"......3.20"

1950's...33.7...41.4...28.5......58.7...10.8...72....0......5.0"......2.75"

1960's...31.8...37.4...26.7......55.4.....8.6...68...-1......7.1"......2.37"

1970's...30.6...37.3...22.1......57.5.....6.0...66...-2......8.0"......4.57"

1980's...31.3...37.4...26.1......57.4.....6.8...63...-2......7.9"......3.26"

1990's...34.8...41.4...25.6......60.9...11.2...66...-2......6.1"......4.47"

2000's...33.1...40.9...24.7......60.8.....9.8...72....1......7.2"......3.19"

2010's...31.1...32.5...29.7......55.0.....9.5 57.....6.....19.1"......3.51"

LT Ave...31.9...39.0...25.0......57.0.....7.9...67...-2......7.5"......3.50"

30 yrs....33.1...39.9...25.5......59.7.....9.3...67...-1......7.1"......3.64"

Warmest........Coldest........Wettest........Driest

43.2 1932...21.7 1918...10.52" 1979...0.58" 1981

41.4 1990...22.1 1977.....8.27" 1978...0.66" 1970

41.4 1950...23.0 1888.....7.94" 1915...0.77" 1955

40.9 1913...23.4 1920.....7.54" 1936...0.94" 1876

40.9 2006...23.7 1912.....6.99" 1999...0.96" 1896

40.3 1933...23.7 1893.....6.99" 1923...1.00" 1985

40.2 1937...23.8 1875.....6.46" 1982...1.10" 1969

40.0 1998...24.7 2004.....6.12" 1891...1.28" 1916

39.9 2002...24.7 1884.....6.04" 1949...1.39" 1967

39.6 1880...24.7 1881.....5.97" 1937...1.54" 1956

warmest temperatures

72 1950 1/26

72 2007 1/6

70 1932 1/14

69 1916 1/27

69 2002 1/29

68 1932 1/13

68 1876 1/2

68 1967 1/24

Coldest temperatures

-6 1882 1/24

-5 1914 1/14

-4 1918 1/1

-4 1879 1/3

-4 1904 1/5

-3 1918 1/4

-3 1914 1/13

-3 1875 1/10

-3 1936 1/23

-2 1994 1/19

-2 1985 1/21

-2 1977 1/17

-2 1925 1/28

-2 1896 1/6

Coldest monthly max...

41 1881

44 1977

45 1883

45 1925

45 1948

46 1971

47 1941

47 1877

Warmest monthly min...

25 1937

24 1990

24 1932

21 1993

21 2002

21 1953

20 1949

Greatest monthly snowfall...

36.0" 2011

27.4" 1925

26.1" 1996

24.5" 1923

23.6" 1935

20.5" 1877

20.3" 1978

18.4" 1905

17.5" 1882

17.3" 1879

17.3" 2004

BIGGEST SNOWSTORMS...

20.2" 1996 1/7-8

19.0" 2011 1/26-27

13.8" 2005 1/22-23

13.6" 1978 1/19-20

13.0" 1877 1/1-2

13.0" 1879 1/15-16

13.0" 1935 1/23-24

12.5" 1964 1/12-13

11.5" 1925 1/2

11.0" 1905 1/24-25

10.3" 2004 1/28

10.0" 1897 1/27-28

10.0" 1908 1/23-24

10.0" 1910 1/14-15

9.9"...1961 1/19-20

.....................................................................................................................................................

February

Decade averages...

decade..ave.t...high....low.....ave max/min...max....min....snowfall...big snow...precipitation...

1870's....30.6....37.0....25.2..........................69......-1........9.3"......11.0"......2.71"

1880's....30.5....37.2....22.7....55.2......4.5....69......-4........7.9"........9.0"......4.07"

1890's....31.9....37.9....24.1....54.6......6.2....68......-6......10.1"......16.0"......3.65"

1900's....29.4....37.7....24.8....52.2......6.8....62.......1........9.3"......11.0"......3.54"

1910's....30.4....35.9....25.4....55.5......4.8....62......-6........7.5"........9.7"......3.44"

1920's....32.1....37.9....26.2....54.3......8.7....64......-2......12.2"......17.5"......4.32"

1930's....32.5....37.0....19.9....58.7......7.8....75.....-15.......7.6"......10.0"......3.13"

1940's....32.6....38.6....29.3....58.1......9.7....73......-8........8.9"......10.7"......2.53"

1950's....35.1....40.1....27.4....58.5....10.1....71.......0........4.0"........7.9"......2.73"

1960's....32.6....36.7....28.3....56.1......8.4....65......-2......10.1"......17.4"......3.31"

1970's....32.6....39.9....25.5....58.7......8.6....70.......0........9.9"......17.7"......3.69"

1980's....35.4....40.6....31.4....60.9....13.0....75.......4........5.4"......17.6"......3.08"

1990's....36.3....40.6....30.6....62.5....11.0....72.......5........8.7"......12.8"......2.99"

2000's....35.2....40.6....28.2....59.7....13.8....68.......8......10.1"......26.9"......2.64"

2010's....34.4....36.0....33.1....57.0....15.5....67.....15......20.9"......20.9"......5.08"

1880-

2009......32.7....38.4....26.4....57.3......8.7....69......-1........8.6"......13.9......3.27"

1980-09..35.6....40.6....30.1....61.0....12.6....72.......6........8.1"......19.1".....2.90"

Coldest.........Warmest.........Wettest..........Driest...........snowiest

19.9 in 1934...40.6 in 1984...6.87" in 1869...0.46" in 1895...36.9" in 2010

22.7 in 1885...40.6 in 1998...6.83" in 1896...0.55" in 1901...27.9" in 1934

24.1 in 1895...40.6 in 2002...6.69" in 2010...0.71" in 2002...26.9" in 2006

24.8 in 1905...40.1 in 1954...6.41" in 1920...0.93" in 2009...26.4" in 1994

25.2 in 1875...40.0 in 1997...6.20" in 1939...0.94" in 1892...26.3" in 1926

25.4 in 1914...40.0 in 1991...6.14" in 1893...1.01" in 1987...26.1" in 2003

25.4 in 1904...39.9 in 1976...6.04" in 1981...1.04" in 1980...25.3" in 1920

25.5 in 1979...39.8 in 1990...6.01" in 1915...1.13" in 1968...25.3" in 1899

25.7 in 1936...39.3 in 1981...5.96" in 1887...1.24" in 1877...23.6" in 1967

25.9 in 1907...38.9 in 1999...5.95" in 2008...1.29" in 1872...23.0" in 1978

Highest temperatures...

75 in 1930 2/25

75 in 1985 2/24

73 in 1949 2/15

72 in 1997 2/27

71 in 1954 2/16

70 in 1976 2/25

70 in 1991 2/5

70 in 1985 2/23

Coldest temperatures...

-15 in 1934 2/9

-8 in 1943 2/15

-7 in 1934 2/8

-6 in 1899 2/10

-6 in 1918 2/5

-5 in 1896 2/17

-4 in 1886 2/5

-4 in 1895 2/6

-4 in 1873 2/24

Coldest monthly max...

41 in 1978

41 in 1905

42 in 1934

42 in 1901

44 in 1969

44 in 1923

46 in 2010

46 in 1924

46 in 1895

46 in 1885

Warmest monthly minimum...

22 in 1927

19 in 1897

19 in 1964

19 in 1982

19 in 2000

19 in 2002

18 in 1986

18 in 1960

18 in 1957

18 in 1932

Biggest snowfalls...

26.9" in 2006 2/11-12

20.9" in 2010 2/25-26

19.8" in 2003 2/16-17

17.7" in 1978 2/6-7

17.6" in 1983 2/11-12

17.5" in 1920 2/4-7

17.4" in 1961 2/3-4

16.0" in 1899 2/12-13

15.3" in 1969 2/9-10

12.8" in 1994 2/11

12.7" in 1979 2/19

12.5" in 1921 2/20

12.5" in 1967 2/7

12.0" in 1926 2/9-10

11.0" in 1876 2/3-4

11.0" in 1907 2/4-5

10.8" in 1995 2/4

10.7" in 1947 2/20-21

10.7" in 1996 2/16-17

10.4" in 1926 2/3-4

10.0" in 1902 2/17

10.0" in 1933 2/11

10.0" in 2010 2/9-10

least snowiest...

0 in 1998...

T in 2002

T in 1981

T in 1971

T in 1938

[JBG]

Great compilation as usual but didn't January 2004 and January 1994 have a notable number of near zero weather. Even January 2000 did.

[uncle W]

Great compilation as usual but didn't January 2004 and January 1994 have a notable number of near zero weather. Even January 2000 did.

they were offset by January 2006 2002...

.........................................................................

NYC Arctic outbreaks...

Max..Min...dates

17.....09.....1/14-16/2004

18.....02

24.....01

....................................................................

29.....06.....1/9-11/2004

15.....01

27.....07

........................................................................

42.....32.....1/25-27/1994

32.....05

31.....00

.........................................................................

35.....04.....1/18-20/1994

10......-2

15.....00

.......................................................................

23.....04.....1/20-22/1985

09......-2

31.....09

............................................................................

35.....19.....1/16-18/1982

19.....00

15.....00

..........................................................................

37.....20.....12/24-26/1980

20......-1

23.....08

.............................................................................

13.....04.....2/17-19/1979

17.....00

28.....17

.............................................................................

26.....07.....1/16-18/1977

12......-2

13.....02

..........................................................................

28.....05.....1/22-24/1976

15......-1

22.....14

.............................................................................

12.....02.....1/8-10/1968

14......-1

17.....03

............................................................................

44.....25.....2/7-9/1963

25......-2

34.....11

.........................................................................

24.....03.....2/1-3/1961

20......-2

28.....07

..........................................................................

23.....06.....1/14-16/1957

12.....00

25.....11

........................................................................

28.....10.....2/2-4/1955

17.....00

37.....08

........................................................................

24.....04.....1/30-2/1/1948

20.....00

26.....09

.........................................................................

30.....05.....2/14-16/1943

08......-8

22.....04

..........................................................................

25.....08.....12/19-21/1942

08......-4

21......-1

...........................................................................

24......-3.....1/23-25/1936

16.....04

20.....08

...........................................................................

18.....02.....1/27-29/1935

25......-1

34.....16

..........................................................................

21......-7.....2/8-10/1934

08....-15

26......-2

..........................................................................

12......-3.....12/29-31/1933

15......-6

42.....15

........................................................................

36.....03.....1/25-27/1927

25......-1

44.....22

.........................................................................

42.....04.....1/27-29/1925

14......-2

34.....13

.........................................................................

30.....05.....2/16-18/1922

17......-2

34.....08

........................................................................

26......-1.....1/31-2/2/1920

24......-2

40.....22

...........................................................................

21.....01.....12/17-19/1919

11......-1

20.....10

...........................................................................

31.....00.....2/4-6/1918

04......-6

38.....01

................................................................................

[JBG]

they were offset by January 2006 2002...

Nothing cold about 1931-2. I am a believer in cycles, not AGW.

[SACRUS]

Y

Thanks for posting these Unc - great stuff here! Believe it or not I find the driest years most intriguing. I forget how dry some of those years were, most recently 89. 88 and 80. Nothing even close lately.

Tony

[JBG]

Y

Thanks for posting these Unc - great stuff here! Believe it or not I find the driest years most intriguing. I forget how dry some of those years were, most recently 89. 88 and 80. Nothing even close lately.

Tony

Ironically 1998 came in very dry in spite of the uber Niño. That event didn't really give us the pounding rains that the 1972-3, 1982-3 and 2006-7 Niño events (or the snows and rains of 2009-10) gave in spite of the moister cast of recent years.

[Stormlover74]

Where are you seeing this? EWR had nearly 14" of rain in the Dec1st - Mar 1st period

Ironically 1998 came in very dry in spite of the uber Niño. That event didn't really give us the pounding rains that the 1972-3, 1982-3 and 2006-7 Niño events (or the snows and rains of 2009-10) gave in spite of the moister cast of recent years.

[JBG]

Where are you seeing this? EWR had nearly 14" of rain in the Dec1st - Mar 1st period

From OP:

Driest

0.58" in 1980

0.68" in 1877

0.83" in 1989

0.83" in 1985

0.98" in 1928

1.12" in 1998

[Stormlover74]

oh, thats Dec 1998. I thought you were referring to the 97-98 winter

From OP:

Driest

0.58" in 1980

0.68" in 1877

0.83" in 1989

0.83" in 1985

0.98" in 1928

1.12" in 1998

[JBG]

oh, thats Dec 1998. I thought you were referring to the 97-98 winter

I thought that was referring to December 1997 to February 1998.No? That wasn't a three-month number?

[Stormlover74]

Up at the top it was for the whole winter but that section was just the month of December and in that case for '98

I thought that was referring to December 1997 to February 1998.No? That wasn't a three-month number?

[JBG]

Up at the top it was for the whole winter but that section was just the month of December and in that case for '98

My bad.

[uncle W]

I looked at over 25 cold spells for at least one week in NYC since 1876...Hoping my math and dates are correct I came up with this top 15...

ave temp...month/day/year...

02.5......12/29/1917-1/4/1918

08.8......2/8-14/1899

10.9......2/3-9/1895

12.2......1/6-12/1968

12.3......1/11-17/1893

12.6......12/28/1880-1/3/1881

12.7......2/12-18/1979

13.5......2/4-10/1934

13.5......1/22-28/1888

13.6......1/9-15/1886

13.6......1/10-16/1912

13.9......1/15-21/1994

14.1......2/1-7/1886

14.6......1/15-21/1935

14.6......1/23-29/1936

......................

Some recent years...

15.5......1/20-26/1961

15.9......1/12-18/1977

16.1......1/13-19/1957

16.7......2/13-19/1958

17.0......1/18-24/2005

the late December early January cold spell in 1917-18 is by far the coldest week in recorded NYC weather history...It averaged 2.5 degrees...The February 1899 cold spell comes in second with 8.8 degrees...1968 and 1979 made the top ten and 1994 the top 15...Temperatures like this for a week cause many problems...Frozen pipes and dead battery weather...

[Stormlover74]

Its been over 15 years since we've had even one day that cold. Couldn't imagine an entire week.

I looked at over 25 cold spells for at least one week in NYC since 1876...Hoping my math and dates are correct I came up with this top 15...

ave temp...month/day/year...

02.5......12/29/1917-1/4/1918

08.8......2/8-14/1899

10.9......2/3-9/1895

12.2......1/6-12/1968

12.3......1/11-17/1893

12.6......12/28/1880-1/3/1881

12.7......2/12-18/1979

13.5......2/4-10/1934

13.5......1/22-28/1888

13.6......1/9-15/1886

13.6......1/10-16/1912

13.9......1/15-21/1994

14.1......2/1-7/1886

14.6......1/15-21/1935

14.6......1/23-29/1936

......................

Some recent years...

15.5......1/20-26/1961

15.9......1/12-18/1977

16.1......1/13-19/1957

16.7......2/13-19/1958

17.0......1/18-24/2005

the late December early January cold spell in 1917-18 is by far the coldest week in recorded NYC weather history...It averaged 2.5 degrees...The February 1899 cold spell comes in second with 8.8 degrees...1968 and 1979 made the top ten and 1994 the top 15...Temperatures like this for a week causes many problems...Frozen pipes and dead battery weather...

[JBG]

Its been over 15 years since we've had even one day that cold. Couldn't imagine an entire week.

2005 is more recent that that. And I recall a good stiff one in January 2004 as well.

[NorthShoreWx]

2005 is more recent that that. And I recall a good stiff one in January 2004 as well.

Coldest consecutive 7 days of January 2004 was 1/10 - 1/16 with a mean for the week of 17.4.

Best NYC could muster in January 2009 was 21.6 from 1/15 - 21.

Forget about 2010. Did it get below freezing during any of the snowstorms?

[NorthShoreWx]

Coldest consecutive 7 days of January 2004 was 1/10 - 1/16 with a mean for the week of 17.4.

Best NYC could muster in January 2009 was 21.6 from 1/15 - 21.

Forget about 2010. Did it get below freezing during any of the snowstorms?

So I looked at 2010. Coldest week was 1/28 - 2/3 at 26.3. There were a couple of other weeks at 27.1 (12/17 - 23 and 12/29 - 1/4). For NYC, I'd call it a fairly consistenly seasonable winter without wide swings in temperature in either direction. Coldest minimum of the season was only 13.

For a real CF, look at 1997 - 1998. The coldest week was above freezing and was a tie between 12/27 - 1/2 and 3/11 - 17 at 33.1. New Year's day was the coldest, with a low of 14 and then sub freezing minumums were hard to come by until the second week of March.

2001 - 2002 wasn't much better. The coldest 7 day average was 29.8 from 12/27 - 1/2. The lowest temperature of the season was 19 on both 2/5 and 3/5. These were the only two days with minimums below 20, which is probably a record.

[uncle W]

minimum/maximum days 32 degrees or below...

decade...............total.min..ave..max..ave.

1930-31-1939-40.'.799.....80......208...21

1940-41-1949-50.'.845.....85......197...20

1950-51-1959-60.'.755.....76......153...15

1960-61-1969-70.'.806.....81......218...22

1970-71-1979-80.'.756.....76......218...22

1980-81-1989-90.'.711.....71......197...20

1990-91-1999-00.'.594.....59......162...16

2000-01-2009-10.'.716.....72......164...16

1930-31-2009-10.'.748.....75......190...19

2010-11-2010-11.'...84.....84........22...22 as of 3/29/11

The 1990's has the least amount of min. days 32 or lower.

The 1940's has the most.

The 1960's and 70's have the most max. days 32 or lower.

The 1950's have the least amount of max days 32 or lower.

Seasons with the most and least amount of max/min days 32 degrees or lower.

min days.

47 2001-02

49 1997-98

50 1998-99

53 1982-83

54 1990-91

57 1996-97

59 1952-53

59 1972-73

60 1957-58

60 1994-95

67 2005-06

63 2006-07

64 2007-08

86 2008-09

63 2009-10

max days

2 1952-53

3 1997-98

3 2001-02

4 1998-99

5 1931-32

6 2007-08

7 1990-91

7 1992-93

8 1974-75

9 1948-49

9 1991-92

10 2005-06

min days

101 1940-41

99 1933-34

99 1939-40

97 1969-70

96 1942-43

96 1943-44

96 1976-77

95 1947-48

93 1955-56

92 1958-59

max days

45 1976-77

42 1977-78

39 1935-36

38 1933-34

32 1947-48

31 1993-94

31 2002-03

30 1980-81

30 1995-96

29 1983-84

29 1962-63

29 1939-40

...............................................................................................................................................................................

coldest 30 day periods... since 1917.

1917-18 19.0

1933-34 19.6

1935-36 20.4

1947-48 21.5

1976-77 21.9

1980-81 22.2

1919-20 22.4

2003-04 22.5

1993-94 23.5

1944-45 23.8

1969-70 24.0

1970-71 24.2

1934-35 24.3

1960-61 24.6

1939-40 24.9

1967-68 25.1

1981-82 25.2

1989-90 25.3

2006-07 25.8

1962-63 25.9

2002-03 25.9

1978-79 26.0

1983-84 26.1

1977-78 26.2

1999-00 26.2

1975-76 27.1

1984-85 27.5

1955-56 27.6

1995-96 27.7

1956-57 27.8

2008-09 27.9

1964-65 28.0

1957-58 28.1

2010-11 28.1

..............................................................................................................................................................................

The coldest...The pipe busters...

Season....30 day ave...snowfall

1933-34.....19.6...........52.0"

1935-36.....20.4...........33.2"

1947-48.....21.5...........63.2"

1976-77.....21.9...........24.5"

1980-81.....22.2...........19.4"

2003-04.....22.4...........42.6"

1993-94.....23.5...........53.4"

1944-45.....23.8...........27.1"

1969-70.....24.0...........25.6"

1970-71.....24.2...........15.5"

The warmest...

season....30 day ave...

1997-98.....37.3.............5.5"

1948-49.....36.3...........46.6"

1931-32.....35.8.............5.3"

2007-08.....35.7...........11.9"

1952-53.....35.5...........15.1"

2001-02.....35.4.............3.5"

1936-37.....34.9...........15.6"

1990-91.....34.5...........24.9"

1932-33.....33.9...........27.0"

1950-51.....33.0...........11.6"

1974-75.....33.0...........13.1"

some other years...

1957-58.....28.1...........44.7"

1959-60.....30.3...........39.2"

1960-61.....24.6...........54.7"

1962-63.....25.9...........16.3"

1963-64.....31.1...........44.7"

1966-67.....28.6...........51.5"

1968-69.....30.4...........30.2"

1977-78.....26.2...........51.5"

1978-79.....26.0...........29.4"

1981-82.....25.2...........24.6"

1982-83.....32.9...........27.2"

1992-93.....31.0...........24.5"

1995-96.....27.7...........75.6"

1999-00.....26.2...........16.3"

2002-03.....25.9...........49.8"

2009-10.....31.6...........51.4"

2010-11.....28.1...........61.9"

....................................................................................

season.....con/days min. 32 or lower...

1976-77...........51

1969-70...........45

1917-18...........44

1933-34...........36

1944-45...........36

2006-07...........36

1984-85...........35

1954-55...........33

1989-90...........33

1935-36...........31

1979-80...........31

2003-04...........29

1999-00...........28

1968-69...........27

1967-68...........27

1964-65...........27

2008-09...........27

..............................................................................................................................

Year..... days max...days max 32 or below/consecutive days...

2010-11...0....23...........22............4

2009-10...0....20...........17............3

2008-09...1....16...........22............3

2007-08...0....20.............6............2

2006-07...1....18...........18............9

2005-06...0....24.............9............2

2004-05...2....18...........18............9

2003-04...4....15...........26............9

2002-03...1....15...........31..........12

2001-02...0....31.............3............2

2000-01...0....25...........20..........13

1999-00...1....19...........18............7

1998-99...0....25...........13............3

1997-98...0....29.............3............2

1996-97...1....17...........11............3

1995-96...3....17...........30............9

1994-95...0....20...........11............5

1993-94...5....10...........31............5

1992-93...0....27.............7............3

1991-92...0....23.............9............2

1990-91...0....20.............7............1

1989-90...1....18...........19............9

1988-89...0....20...........19............3

1987-88...1....17...........19............7

1986-87...1....19...........11............5

1985-86...0....22...........19............4

1984-85...1......9...........18............5

1983-84...3....13...........29............8

1982-83...0....21...........13............4

1981-82...6....15...........20............6

1980-81...3....14...........30..........11

1979-80...0....21...........19............5

1978-79...6....13...........26..........11

1977-78...0....21...........42..........12

1976-77...5....12...........45............9

1975-76...2....15...........20............3

1974-75...0....27.............8............2

1973-74...0....22...........23............3

1972-73...1....18...........13............4

1971-72...1....15...........17............5

1970-71...4....12...........25............5

1969-70...3....14...........27............6

1968-69...0....22...........18............3

1967-68...4....13...........22............9

1966-67...1....16...........25............6

1965-66...1....19...........14............2

1964-65...3....16...........22............5

1963-64...0....22...........18............7

1962-63...1....13...........29............7

1961-62...0....24...........16............4

1960-61...2....19...........27..........16

1959-60...0....23...........15............3

1958-59...0....22...........26..........10

1957-58...2....10...........21..........12

1956-57...1....12...........13............6

1955-56...1....18...........20............4

1954-55...1....17...........16............4

1953-54...0....21...........13............4

1952-53...0....29.............2............1

1951-52...0....20...........13............3

1950-51...0....20...........14............3

1949-50...0....22...........12............3

1948-49...0....22.............9............4

1947-48...2....18...........32..........10

......................................................................

1942-43...2......8............28...........5

1935-36...4....16...........39..........12

1934-35...5....16...........24............6

1933-34...6......8............38...........9

1917-18.12......2............45.........10

[uncle W]

December ended up averaging 32.8 in NYC...The last 30 years averaged 37.9...The long term average since 1870 is 35.6...Precipitation was 4.24" and snowfall was 20.1" with 20.0" on 12/26-27...Annual precipitation was just under 50" for the first time since 2002...Not a drought by any means...Precipitation was normal for the year...

[uncle W]

So far since December 1st NYC is averaging 32.3 at the mid way point this winter...That's way below average so far...The coldest part of the winter is the next three weeks on average...The long term average is 33.4 for the season......Last year was 33.8 for the season...I'll guess we end up below the long term average this year and the coldest temperatures are still to come...

[uncle W]

today is the coldest day since January 2009...it's also the coldest max day so far...It looks like we topped off near 20...Last years coldest max was 20...We have more max days 32 or lower than last year already...

[Nikolai]

Tonight I think I'll make a comprehensive topic on just how historic this winter is beginning to look, especially for winters in the modern period.

The above being said--historic winter, indeed. Today still had 6" snowcover in the park, and (not that today put it over the edge, but...) the park has now had 6"+ on the ground for 11/24 days and 16/24 have had 4"+ on the ground, with the stretch of 1"+ unbroken since 12/27!

Even though our last major snow event was weeks ago, it still looks like we just recently saw over 2 feet of snow with all the huge piles remaining everywhere. If we manage 6"+ with the Wednesday/Thursday event, the snowbergs on the sidewalks are going to be absolutely enormous.

[tmagan]

today is the coldest day since January 2009...it's also the coldest max day so far...It looks like we topped off near 20...Last years coldest max was 20...We have more max days 32 or lower than last year already...

Today's high will come at 11:59 P.M.

[A-L-E-X]

JFK tied a daily record both for the low and the high..... 19/6

[A-L-E-X]

Tonight I think I'll make a comprehensive topic on just how historic this winter is beginning to look, especially for winters in the modern period.

The above being said--historic winter, indeed. Today still had 6" snowcover in the park, and (not that today put it over the edge, but...) the park has now had 6"+ on the ground for 11/24 days and 16/24 have had 4"+ on the ground, with the stretch of 1"+ unbroken since 12/27!

Even though our last major snow event was weeks ago, it still looks like we just recently saw over 2 feet of snow with all the huge piles remaining everywhere. If we manage 6"+ with the Wednesday/Thursday event, the snowbergs on the sidewalks are going to be absolutely enormous.

The enormity of this winter can be measured by the duration of the snowpack. I wonder how many winters have had a more durable snowpack than this? Offhand, I can only think of 1947-48, 1960-61 and 1977-78 in the "modern era." We've surpassed 1993-94, which was the best snowpack winter I can remember, with 1995-96 number two.

[chazman]

Was trying to think of the snowpack myself. Can't remember there being a month long snowpack in 77-78 (might have been easily if not for deluge between 01/20 and 2/6 events)

[uncle W]

from 1/6 to 2/4 NYC averaged 28.1...December and January averaged 31.3...The lowest temperature is six so far...We have 20 days with a max 32 or lower...58 days with a min. 32 or lower...

coldest 30 day periods... since 1917.

1917-18 19.0

1933-34 19.6

1935-36 20.4

1947-48 21.5

1976-77 21.9

1980-81 22.2

1919-20 22.4

2003-04 22.5

1993-94 23.5

1944-45 23.8

1969-70 24.0

1970-71 24.2

1934-35 24.3

1960-61 24.6

1939-40 24.9

1967-68 25.1

1981-82 25.2

1989-90 25.3

2006-07 25.8

1962-63 25.9

2002-03 25.9

1978-79 26.0

1983-84 26.1

1977-78 26.2

1999-00 26.2

1975-76 27.1

1984-85 27.5

1955-56 27.6

1995-96 27.7

1956-57 27.8

2008-09 27.9

1964-65 28.0

1957-58 28.1

2010-11 28.1

1976-77 was the coldest winter in NYC since the 1930's...Here is a list of the coldest winters since 1950 and the coldest 30 day period for each winter...

Winter........ave temp.......coldest 30 day period...

1976-77..........28.5..........21.9

1962-63..........30.0..........25.9

1977-78..........30.3..........26.2

1969-70..........30.5..........24.0

1958-59..........30.9..........28.5

1993-94..........31.2..........23.5

2002-03..........31.2..........25.9

1967-68..........31.3..........25.1

1960-61..........31.7..........24.6

1970-71..........32.1..........24.2

[tamarack]

Its been over 15 years since we've had even one day that cold. Couldn't imagine an entire week.

I think it's actually been nearly 68 years - back to 2/15/43 - since a daily mean has been as low as 2.5F. Closest is 1/21/85 with 9/-2/3.5.

[uncle W]

today was the 22nd day with a max 32 or lower...The average since 1930 is 19...The average winter temperature since 12/1 is 31.2...It would really have to torch the rest of the month to make the winter average higher than the long term average of 33.4...I'm guessing the final average will be around 32.5...coldest since 2003-04 which averaged 32.4...2002-03 averaged 31.3...

[A-L-E-X]

I think it's actually been nearly 68 years - back to 2/15/43 - since a daily mean has been as low as 2.5F. Closest is 1/21/85 with 9/-2/3.5.

Hey, that was one of the analogs for this winter.... 42-43. Interesting.