NYC Experiences Record-High Temperatures

A couple enjoys the afternoon sun on an unusually warm spring day near the Plaza Hotel on Fifth Avenue and 59th Street on Wednesday. The temperature in Central Park reached a record high of 91 degrees by mid-afternoon. Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

NEW YORK—Sunbathers and warmth-seekers flocked to city parks on Wednesday, as temperatures in Central Park reached a record high of 91 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday. The unseasonably warm weather prompted New Yorkers to reach for their sunglasses, don their board shorts and turn on their air conditioning.

According to the National Weather Service, the previous record was 89 degrees set back in 1929. The heat has prompted many New Yorkers to wonder if this summer will be hotter than the last, when cool temperatures and rainy days consumed June, 2009.

Across the eastern United States, temperatures have been unseasonably hot for the past several days, as temperatures are reportedly 20 degrees higher than usual. Temperatures have reached near-record levels along the eastern seaboard, contrasting the record snowfall and rain experienced during the last two months. However, the summer-like weather is not expected to last for long, with temperatures dropping to around 80 degrees on Thursday. Over the weekend, highs in the 50s are expected.

Last month, the tri-state area received record-setting rainfall. Nearly 11 inches of rain were recorded last month in Central Park, surpassing a previous record of 10.5 inches nearly 30 years ago.