The Most Sweltering Christmas Heatwave in New York History

Winters in the northern state of New York are often cold. Sometimes they can even be described as frigid. In a typical New York winter, residents and visitors alike may see temperatures drop close to freezing and feel even colder with the wind chill. Between December and February, New York’s temperatures often range between 25 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it is not unusual to have days that run even cooler. Winter storms bring snow, especially in upstate New York where the average annual snowfall is over 70 inches. What could be cozier than a snowy Christmas day in New York? However, some Christmases are not so cool, and may even become a little too cozy. In recent years, New York has seen some unseasonably warm December days. This article covers a New York heatwave that made the Christmas season significantly toastier than typical. Let’s learn about New York’s hottest December now. 

The Hottest Christmas in New York History

Since 1970, the hottest December in New York has been about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. However, in 2015, New York City saw record-high temperatures that made it the warmest Christmas ever – and cities across the state recorded new highs too. On December 25, 2015, New Yorkers went outside to experience a balmy 66 degrees Fahrenheit on Christmas Day. The day before, Christmas Eve saw temperatures at 72 degrees in New York City’s Central Park. This completely blew away the previous record set in 1996, of 63 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to ABC News, New Yorkers went outside wearing shorts and tank tops, started playing pick-up games of soccer and basketball, and celebrated Christmas with unseasonal outdoor activity. 

The Hottest Day Across New York

While residents of New York City reveled in the incredibly warm Christmas weather, cities across New York saw other record highs. In Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, the temperatures surpassed 60 degrees. Albany’s Christmas Eve temperatures of 58 degrees surpassed its previous record of 57, which was established all the way back in 1941.

The Warmest December in New York History

The ridiculously warm Christmas weather came after several other record-breakingly warm December days. Just a few days before, December 13, 2015 hit 66 degrees Fahrenheit in New York City, making it the hottest December 13 recorded. The warmest Decembers in New York history have had an average of 64 degrees Fahrenheit for the last 20 years.

What’s Next for New York?

New York and many other states are seeing record-high temperatures. We can expect that this may continue to be the case in years ahead as climate change wreaks havoc on the weather and brings more unpredictable heatwaves – making more winters the warmest New York winters ever.