NEW YORK CITY’s COLDEST JANUARY IN 27 YEARS

Feb. 6, 2004 — If you think this has been a colder than usual New York winter, you’re right! The average temperature in New York City this January has been 24.7 degrees—tying it for seventh place on the list for the coldest January in 27 years. The last time average temperatures dipped lower was in January 1977, when the average temperature was only 22.1 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest January on record for Central Park was back in 1918 when the average temperature was 21.7 degrees. (Click NOAA image for larger view of New York’s Central Park taken during a frigid day on Nov. 27, 2002. Click here for high resolution version. Please credit “NOAA.”)

The cold weather teamed up with wind speeds of more than 20 mph at times, creating wind chill factors that went below zero on several occasions. The temperature did not sink below zero during the month, but it did drop to the single digits eight days during the month, hitting one degree on January 10 and 16, 2004. The one-degree temperature on January 16 tied the record low for that date.

Along with record cold temperatures there was above normal snowfall during January adding to the frigid wintry weather. The 17.3 inches reported in Central Park was nearly ten inches above normal. The total snowfall for the entire winter season is already 26.3 inches above normal with 37.1 inches of snow to date.

"The frigid temperatures of January have tied it for the seventh coldest January in the weather history of Central Park. Also, snowfall for the season is 26 inches above normal.” said Michael Wyllie, meteorologist-in-charge of the NOAA National Weather Service forecast office in Upton, New York. “Even though the winter is more than half over, historically, some of the biggest snowstorms take place in February.” he added.

The outlook for New York City in February from the NOAA Climate Prediction Center is for normal temperatures (34.6 degrees F) and snowfall (7.6 inches).

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA National Weather Service Eastern Region

NOAA Climate Prediction Center

NOAA Storm Watch

NOAA Operational Daily Snow Cover Analysis (Satellite Images)

NOAA National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (Snow Analyses)

Media Contact:
Marcie Katcher, NOAA National Weather Service Eastern Region, (631) 244-0149