Get ready for some heat!
This week, the New York area might see record-breaking temperatures for this time of year, raising concerns about wildfires as the region recovers from a particularly cold winter.
With over 280 million people across the U.S. anticipating above-average temperatures, it’s likely that we’ll witness more than 150 instances of April temperature records being surpassed. Records were already broken from Tuesday to Wednesday, according to some forecasts.
In the tri-state area, temperatures could hit nearly 80 degrees starting Monday and may reach 90 degrees in parts of New York by Wednesday, potentially breaking the previous April 15 record.
On Wednesday, Central Park will be a key point of interest to see if it surpasses the 87-degree mark—the highest April 15 temperature recorded back in 1941. That same year, LaGuardia Airport noted a high of 86 degrees.
In New Jersey, forecasts suggest temperatures could soar up to 30 degrees above the typical mid-April average this week, with the hottest day likely falling on Wednesday.
The National Weather Service noted, “Above-normal temperatures will continue today and become even warmer as the week goes on,” hinting that some records may indeed be broken mid-week.
On Monday, areas in New Jersey could reach the low 70s to low 80s, while the Jersey Shore is expected to be cooler, lingering in the low 50s, thanks to colder ocean temperatures and nearby winds.
There’s also a possibility of wind gusts hitting up to 35 mph on Monday, which raises some concern about fire risks.
Several small wildfires erupted in the South and Northeast over the weekend, including one near Philadelphia that burned over 120 acres before it was brought under control.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, temperatures are expected to hit 90 degrees on Wednesday for the first time since last September, according to forecasts. Other cities like Charlotte, Richmond, and Washington, D.C., are also looking at temperatures nearing 90 degrees, while the mid-April average in those areas is typically in the low 60s.
A few showers or thunderstorms might pop up in the Northeast from Tuesday through Thursday, primarily north of I-78, but significant rainfall isn’t in the cards until later this week.
The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting above-average temperatures along much of the East Coast for the remainder of April, with the Southeast anticipated to stay especially warm.
