Temperatures soared across much of the East Coast on Wednesday, and cities from New York to Washington, D.C., hit 90 degrees for the first time this year.
From the Mid-Atlantic into the Southwest, highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s were 20 to 30 degrees above what is normal for this time of year. Similar temperatures were expected across the same areas on Thursday before relief begins to creep in by the weekend.
Richard Bann, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center, called the weather “summer-like,” but he noted one key difference: Unlike in July and August, low humidity levels kept temperatures from feeling quite so sticky. Still, forecasters warned, the temperatures could be hazardous for people who are unable to access places to cool down and hydrate.
In New York City, the official weather station in Central Park recorded 90 degrees, the hottest temperature for April 15 since records began in 1869. The previous record was 87 degrees, set in 1941.
“This was the first 90-degree day of the 2026 calendar year,” said John Murray, a meteorologist with the Weather Service office in Upton, N.Y. “The last time we hit 90 degrees was in August of last year.”
In Washington, Ronald Reagan National Airport also reached 90 degrees, breaking a 154-year-old record for the date. Philadelphia hit 91, breaking a record set in 1941.
In the Atlanta area, temperatures didn’t quite break records but were hot nonetheless. The city’s downtown reached 84 degrees, and temperatures could climb close to 90 on Friday and Saturday, forecasters said.
The summery warmth was being caused by a robust area of high pressure spread across the region, and will be shoved out of the way this weekend by a weather system moving across the Central United States, Mr. Bann said.
Cooler weather will come first to the Mid-Atlantic, with New York City’s highs by Saturday expected to be in the 60s, far more typical of April. Washington, Atlanta and areas across the South will likely cool down by Sunday.
Amy Graff is a Times reporter covering weather, wildfires and earthquakes.
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