Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Warm Weather Gives New Yorkers Sunny Start to Weekend

By DNAinfo Staff on January 7, 2012 12:10pm  | Updated on January 7, 2012 3:34pm

New Yorkers enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, when the temperature topped out at 62 degrees.
New Yorkers enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, when the temperature topped out at 62 degrees.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Sarah Tan

By Sarah Tan and Patrick Hedlund

DNAinfo Staff

MANHATTAN — New Yorkers had a sunny start to the weekend Saturday, with the high temperatures a whopping 25 degrees above average for this time of year, nearly breaking a century-old record.

The mercury climbed to 62 degrees Saturday afternoon — only two degrees shy of the record for Jan. 7 set in 1907 — days after frigid temperatures in the teens gripped the city, according to AccuWeather.

"We were expecting it to snow," said Shirley Hermocilla, 23, from Australia, who was basking in the sun in Washington Square Park Saturday afternoon with her sister.

"To be honest you, we were a little disappointed that it didn't, but were still enjoying the warm weather."

The unseasonably balmy weather comes after the city enjoyed a high Friday of 53, which was also about 20 degrees above average for early January, according to AccuWeather.

"It's a beautiful day," said T.J. Jeffries, 62, who rode his bike from his home in Hoboken to the Village Saturday. "This is unusual for January, but what I think is going to happen is we're going to get a real winter after this.

The temperature plummeted to a low of 13 degrees Wednesday, with heavy winds making it feel like the single digits.

The spring-like weather won’t last long, though, as the temperature is forecast to drop a low of 36 Saturday night.

That didn't stop anyone from taking in some rays during the afternoon.

"It's probably global warming," said Chris Sicinski, 20, "but I'm going to enjoy it while I can."

Highs about 10 to 15 degrees above average are expected through next week, including a high of 46 degrees Sunday, according to AccuWeather.

Visit DNAinfo's weather page for more forecasts and news.