Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial beginning of summer — but the start of the season is going to be soggy and cold this year.
After days of blistering heat, and some scattered thunderstorms, New Yorkers on Friday were granted a reprieve with some cool, overcast conditions, with highs hovering in the mid-60s. Temperatures are only expected to drop from there, dipping into the low 50s and in some places 40s, overnight, according to the AccuWeather forecast.
“The seemingly endless temperature roller coaster this spring will continue through the Memorial Day holiday with another sharp cooldown across the northeastern quarter of the nation,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.
The station further warned of a “washout for outdoor plans Saturday at least into Sunday morning.”
The precipitation will kick off in the city on Saturday with scattered showers throughout the morning, and it is expected to intensify into more significant rainfall as the day progresses, meteorologists said. Temperatures are expected remain unseasonably cool, lingering in the low 50s before dipping into the 40s after sunset.
Sunday too is slated to begin with heavy rainfall, though the precipitation is likely to taper off throughout the day, with scattered showers in the forecast throughout the day and into Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures are expected to rebound, though, with Sunday’s highs slated to hit the upper 60s while Monday will be in mid-the 70s.
The weather won’t turn beach-worthy until on Tuesday, when most will have returned to work. It is expected to be sunny with temps hovering in the 80s.
The weekend gloom comes after New York experienced its first major heat wave of the year. Tuesday marked the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures soaring past 95 degrees. What’s more, Wednesday’s high of 97 degrees broke the previous record of 96 degrees set exactly 30 years prior in 1996.