So, you’re checking on the New York yesterday weather. Maybe you were out in it and felt that weird January warmth, or maybe you're just trying to settle a bet about whether it actually rained. Honestly, Tuesday, January 13, 2026, was kind of a classic NYC winter "fake out."
It didn't feel like the middle of January. Not even close.
While the calendar says we should be shivering, the thermometer at Central Park was busy doing its own thing. We hit a high of 48°F around 2:25 PM. That’s nearly ten degrees warmer than the "normal" high for this time of year, which usually sits right around 39°F. If you were walking through Midtown without a heavy parka, you weren't crazy—you were just dressed for the reality of the day.
The Specifics of New York Yesterday Weather
Let's get into the weeds for a second because the numbers tell a funny story. While the day peaked at 48°F, the low wasn't even that low. We bottomed out at 35°F early in the morning. Basically, the "coldest" part of yesterday was still barely freezing.
If you were near JFK, things were even milder. They clocked a high of 49°F.
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Wait, did it rain? Technically, yes, but barely. If you felt a couple of drops on your forehead while grabbing coffee, that was probably the extent of it. The official National Weather Service report for Central Park showed 0.00 inches of measurable rain, though JFK recorded a trace amount (0.01 inches). It was more about the dampness and the "vibe" of the clouds than an actual downpour.
Wind and Sky: The "Gray" Factor
It wasn't exactly a beach day, though. The sky was pretty much a solid sheet of gray for most of the day.
- Sky Cover: 0.0 (meaning full overcast/heavy clouds)
- Humidity: Peaked at 51% in the evening.
- Wind: Relatively calm for the city, averaging about 4.7 mph, though south-southwest gusts did hit 31 mph at times.
Basically, if you were wearing a hat, you probably had to hold onto it once or twice, but you weren't battling a gale.
Why Yesterday Was a Major Outlier
Usually, when we talk about New York yesterday weather in January, we're talking about salt on the sidewalks and black slush at the corners. But 2026 is starting off weird. We are currently in a transition out of a La Niña phase, and that often means the East Coast gets these odd, warm bursts.
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According to the Climate Prediction Center, this "warmer than normal" trend isn't just a fluke. We've seen a massive shift since the early 90s where our winters are becoming more variable. Yesterday was a perfect example of that. We didn't break the all-time record—which was a wild 68°F back in 1932—but we were definitely playing in the "mild" league.
What happened at the airports?
Sometimes the city "heat island" makes Central Park feel different than the rest of the boroughs.
- LaGuardia: Recorded a high of 49°F with much stronger wind gusts, hitting 44 mph from the northwest.
- JFK: Saw light rain and fog. The humidity there was much higher, hitting 100% at 3:00 AM.
If you were flying out of Queens, you definitely felt a different version of the New York yesterday weather than someone walking through the West Village.
What Most People Get Wrong About NYC Winters
There's this myth that New York is always a frozen tundra in January. People expect the "Home Alone" snowscape. In reality, yesterday proved that our winters are often just... damp and grey. The "New York yesterday weather" was less about snow boots and more about light layers and maybe a windbreaker.
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We had zero snowfall. Zip. The record for snow on January 13 was 11.5 inches set back in 1964, so we were nowhere near a winter wonderland.
What’s Coming Next?
If you liked yesterday's 48-degree "heatwave," I have some bad news. The atmosphere is shifting. A frontal boundary is strengthening, and we're looking at a slow increase in rain showers followed by a sharp drop in temperature.
Actually, the mild New York yesterday weather was the "calm before the storm."
As we move into the rest of the week, that rain is likely to turn into snow as a low-pressure system develops to our southeast. We’re talking about a potential 3-5 inches of accumulation by the time Thursday morning rolls around.
Actionable Next Steps
- Swap the Layers: If you were wearing a light jacket yesterday, it's time to dig the heavy wool coat back out of the closet.
- Check Your Commute: With snow expected to mix in soon, the "pleasant" dry streets from yesterday are going to get slick.
- Monitor the Wind: Those gusts we saw at LaGuardia (44 mph) are a sign of the colder air pushing in; keep an eye on loose items on balconies.
New York yesterday weather was a gift of mild air, but in this city, the weather changes faster than the subway schedule. Enjoy the memory of that 48°F high while it lasts.