LibertyBell

yes most of those earlier years heatwaves were drought driven, with less moisture in the air back then, the temperatures were cooler at night but when a hot airmass was around it was easier to get to triple digits. Summer 1966 being a case in point, the driest year on record in NYC and the only one in which 100 degrees was reached during three different heatwaves and a total of four times. 1953 was another very dry year and the only other one in which NYC had 4 100+ degree days. Have a look at this chart https://www.weather.gov/okx/100degreedays

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/nyregion/nyc-heat-wave.html This article from 2 days ago also mentions the August 1948 heatwave and compares it to what just happened but it's paywalled =\

this is an interesting article, it puts extreme heatwaves into a historical perspective, they talk about the lengthy 1980 and 1983 heatwaves which were 2 month heatwaves for a large part of the country, as well as the 1948 and 1966 historic heatwaves https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/heat-death/

Can't downplay the extreme devastation caused by this heatwave. AI Overview The summer of 1948 included a notable heat wave, particularly in late August. While not as severe as the 1936 heat wave, it caused significant heat-related deaths and disruptions, especially in urban areas. In New York City, the heat wave resulted in over 1,000 excess deaths, according to the Boston Review. Here's a more detailed look: Timing and Severity: The August 1948 heat wave was particularly intense, exceeding the severity of a heat wave eleven years earlier. Impact in New York City: The heat wave caused over 1,000 excess deaths in the city. Disruptions: The heat wave led to widespread power outages, strained infrastructure, and impacted daily life for many, according to The New York Times. Historical Context: While the 1936 heat wave remains the most severe in terms of widespread impact and duration, the 1948 heat wave serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of urban populations to extreme heat and the need for preparedness. Specific Examples: In one instance, a delegation had to arrange for city water after a school providing water access closed, and the Bronx Zoo reported significantly lower attendance than on a typical summer Sunday. Drownings and Heat Prostration: The heat wave was also marked by drownings and deaths due to heat prostration.

It did I think 1954 hit 100+ in NYC twice. Back then with the drier climate it was much easier to reach 100+ It was also easier to be colder. On the coast, extremes have a lot to do with how much moisture is in the air.

No urban heat island in 1948..... that was one of the most historic periods of heat on record with NYC peaking at 103 and three straight days of 100+ and JFK had back to back days of 100+ which has only happened a couple of times and that was the only time it happened after August 20. 1953 was much more extreme though and it has records for longest heatwave and peak September heat that still stand to this day.

November 1950 triple phaser 1953 was our most extreme summer on record never saw anything like it so it rubber banded back to extreme heat again in 1953 and 1955. Then back to cold again for the last few years of the 50s and the early 60s before the historic heat of 1966 and then cold again after that.

I hate those corn and soybean crops, all those subsidies have an extremely negative effect upon the environment and on our health.

1944 was much hotter than 1936. Likewise 1966 was the peak of the heat prior to 1993. There is a theory out there that the 5 summers between 1944 and 1955 that had extreme heatwaves were hot because of nuclear testing. 1944, 1948, 1949, 1953, 1955

it's fascinating how extreme heat was balanced out with extreme cold. the same must have happened after 1953 and 1955.

Don, in 1983 when JFK reached 100 in both July and August, what was their high temperature on 9/11/1983 when NYC hit 99? I think NYC hit 90 6 times in September that year, did JFK also hit 90 6 times that month?

we need a 2002 type pattern to have this happen more often.

Yes a few days of this is pretty nice. 4 days of this and 3 days of the other is an interesting roller coaster lol.

a characteristic of summers like 1999 was that we would have weeks without any frontal passages (this also happened in 1993) and then the drought would be broken with a tropical deluge in September after the peak of the heat had already passed. I remember 1991 was also like this, but the tropical system that broke the drought was Hurricane Bob in late August. We did have a couple more 90 degree days after that in September though.

2002 wow and that was a really hot summer (hot and dry, which we need to get extremes like this.)

I think it has happened in August before, though I don't remember what year-- maybe 1993?

I'm confused I thought he loved cold weather lol. I like short heatwaves with breaks in between of weather like we have now.

it depends on how it's communicated. If a change in the weather exposes a weak immune system then it's possible. Generally speaking, viral infections are more contagious in cold and dry weather because virus particles stay in the air longer. Conversely bacterial infections are more common in the summer because bacteria love warm and humid weather.

unfortunately it also means less extremely hot days so our climate is becoming compressed to higher mins and less high temperatures of 95/100 or more. 1949 must have had lower low temperatures to balance out the 8 high temperatures of 100+ at EWR and 5 high temperatures of 99+ at NYC.

What I see on the hourlies is that the sun comes back out at 2 PM and thats when the temperature spike occurs. As a matter of fact they have me completely clear at 5 PM. Tomorrow looks like the really cool day and cloudy all day with a high of 72. It's 76 here now with a forecasted high of 81 here. Sunday looks to be partly sunny here now and no rain at all and a high of 86.

I think 1993 and 1999 were in drought patterns too weren't they Chris? We had much drier summers back then. July 1999 was one of the hottest months I have ever experienced. July 1993 right up there too.

it could have reached 99.5 at least in between hours.

Maybe this will cycle back to more 40s-60s type long heatwaves? If not that, maybe a 1993 or 1999 type heatwave (which is still relatively recent), 1999 had two very long super heatwaves and the one extreme heatwave in 1993 really stands out.

I think this week demonstrated that Long Island can be just as hot as New Jersey if the ridge is strong enough. This intense heat was like what we had in 2011. The heat we have had since then wasn't strong enough to overcome the ocean like this one was. 1988 the heat wasn't nearly as intense as what we had in 1993 or 1999 or 2010 or 2011 or what we just had now.

But less heat for us on the coast in 1988? 1999 was much hotter here