Historic February Warmth of February 21, 2018

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Early morning fog and low clouds gave way to abundant sunshine. By day’s end, February 21, 2018 had carved its place into meteorological history as the warmest February day on record in much of the northeastern United States.

Select high temperatures included:

Bridgeport: 67° (tied the monthly record)
Danbury: 77° (tied the monthly record)
Hartford: 77° (new monthly record; old record: 73°)
New York City:
…Central Park: 78° (new monthly record; old record: 75°)
…LaGuardia Airport: 79° (new monthly record; old record: 74°)
Newark: 80° (new monthly record; old record: 76°)
Poughkeepsie: 76° (new monthly record; old record: 73°)
Teterboro: 83° (new monthly record; old record: 74°)
White Plains: 77° (new monthly record; old record: 75°)

Ongoing climatic warming coupled with increased temperature variability has reduced the return time for extreme February warmth. For the 1951-1980 climate period (the “normal” period in NASA’s global temperature record), New York City saw 70° or warmer days in February about once every 851 February days (once every 30 years). That figure is down to once every 340 February days (once every 12 years) for the most recent 30 years.


The New York Botanical Garden (Bronx, New York)


The New York Botanical Garden (Bronx, New York)


A turtle rests on a sun-warmed rock after sunset (New Rochelle, New York)