New York, NY (April 16, 2026)

New York City shattered an 85-year-old temperature record Wednesday as Central Park climbed to 90 degrees, making it the hottest April 15 recorded there since official observations began. The previous mark for the date was 87 degrees, set in 1941.

The record-setting warmth gave the city a midsummer feel in the middle of April, with sunny skies and unusually hot conditions drawing crowds outdoors across the five boroughs. The brief surge of heat is part of a broader weather pattern that has pushed temperatures well above normal across much of the eastern United States this week.

The warm stretch is expected to continue into Thursday, when highs in New York could again approach 90 degrees. Friday should remain warm, though not quite as intense, with temperatures around 80 before a more noticeable cooldown arrives for the weekend. Forecasts show highs dropping to the mid-60s Saturday, then slipping into the 50s Sunday and Monday as more typical April air returns to the region.

Forecasters say the unusual burst of heat has been driven by a large-scale weather pattern that has allowed warm air to build over the East while stormier conditions in the western United States have helped keep colder air from pushing through. The result has been a short-lived but striking temperature spike more common in early summer than in mid-April.

By early next week, the city is expected to feel a sharp contrast from Wednesday’s record warmth. Highs are projected to fall to about 52 on Monday and 56 on Tuesday before moderating again later in the month. After several days of summerlike weather, the return to cooler conditions may come as a jolt for New Yorkers who briefly got a preview of the season ahead.