A shock to spring: record low daytime temperatures in Central Park
On Thursday, May 22, Central Park registered a high of just 51°F (10.6°C), shattering a 131-year-old temperature record for that date. The previous record high for the coldest day on May 22 was 54°F (12.2°C), set in 1894. This milestone, confirmed by the National Weather Service New York (NWS NY), marked an unusually cold day in what is typically a mild and warming spring period in New York City.
The unseasonal chill was driven by a rare late-season Nor’easter, a storm type more common in winter, bringing cold air, strong winds, and scattered showers across the Northeast.
Other regional cold records tumble
The cold spell didn’t stop at Central Park. Several other key climate stations also recorded historically low highs for May 22:
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): 53°F (11.7°C)
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA): 53°F (11.7°C)
- Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP): 53°F (11.7°C)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): 55°F (12.8°C), tying its old record
All of these values fall significantly below the typical average high for this time of year, which sits around 73°F (22.8°C) for Central Park. The average low is generally 57°F (13.9°C), making Thursday’s maximum temperatures feel more like March or early April than late May.
What caused this late-May chill?
According to Bill Goodman, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, such a cool high temperature so deep into spring is “pretty unusual.” The Nor’easter, while not producing snow this late in the season, still introduced a powerful push of cold air that suppressed temperatures across much of the Northeast.
This type of anomaly often signals seasonal trends. Goodman noted that such cool spells in late May can sometimes hint at a milder summer ahead, although long-range forecasting remains uncertain.
Looking ahead: Will the chill linger?
Temperatures are expected to gradually rebound toward seasonal averages in the coming days, although cool conditions may stick around through Memorial Day weekend. Some light rain showers could also disrupt outdoor plans across eastern New York, but nothing as impactful as Thursday’s plunge.
The six- to 10-day outlook from the NWS Climate Prediction Center suggests a return to average temperatures for New York through the end of May, paired with an above-normal chance of rainfall.
Despite Thursday’s lack of a record low temperature, the record-breaking high—that is, the coldest daytime temperature for May 22—has entered weather history as an extraordinary late-spring event.
