Temperatures Plummet in the Northeast

news image
Special Stories
22 Feb 2018 5:46 PM
What a difference a day makes!  On Wednesday, the weather was incredibly warm in the northeast.  New York City had a record high temperature of 78 degrees, shattering the old record of 68 set back in 1930.  Record Highs were also set in many other cities, such as Washington D.C. and Hartford, Connecticut.  Washington D.C. hit 81 degrees, while Hartford reached 77 degrees. But temperatures that warm aren't meant to last very long this time of year.  Today, February returned, as a cold front brought in much colder weather.  On Wednesday, Syracuse N.Y. had a high of 74 degrees.  Today, temperatures returned to the lower 30's, with snow showers blanketing the city.  It was a harsh return to reality for many residents. But Syracuse isn't alone.  Most cities in the northeast had similar temperature drops on Thursday.  Check out the graphic below.  It compares temperature differences over a 24 hour period, from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon.  The temperature drops are substantial.  Hartford, Connecticut had a temperature drop of 40 degrees!  Boston, New York, and Philadelphia all saw similar temperature plunges on Thursday. That's the kind of change a strong cold front can bring during February.  Syracuse N.Y. actually dropped 20 degrees in one hour on Wednesday as the front passed through. But where do the temperatures go from here?  Great question.  Let's take a look. On Friday, temperatures will be very close to average for the northeast.  Low to mid 40's are expected for the I-95 corridor from Boston to New York, and upper 40's from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. On Saturday, a little warming trend will take the temps into the upper 50's for cities like Boston, Hartford, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. And on Sunday, temps will take a little downturn as rain and a touch of winter weather move back into the region. For WeatherNation:  Meteorologist Matt Monroe
All Weather News
More
Several Fires Break Out in SoCal Amid Santa Ana Wind Event

Several Fires Break Out in SoCal Amid Santa Ana Wind Event

Santa Ana winds helped several fires grow qui

17 Oct 2026 2:05 AM
Tropics: Pacific Staying Active, Atlantic Staying Quiet

Tropics: Pacific Staying Active, Atlantic Staying Quiet

Isaias ended the late-season streak of no hur

17 Oct 2026 1:55 AM
Severe Risk Diminishing Saturday Morning for the Northeast

Severe Risk Diminishing Saturday Morning for the Northeast

Severe Storm PotentialSevere risk is decreasi

17 Oct 2026 1:20 AM
Flooding & Severe Storms Persist in the Southern Plains

Flooding & Severe Storms Persist in the Southern Plains

Extreme rainfall has been hitting areas of Te

16 Oct 2026 2:00 AM
Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

More records fell on Thursday afternoon and e

16 Oct 2026 1:50 AM
Cooler Air & Lingering Snow for The Rockies

Cooler Air & Lingering Snow for The Rockies

A digging trough is bringing cooler temperatu

15 Oct 2026 10:00 AM
Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

Rachel came ashore in far northwestern Mexico

13 Oct 2026 12:10 AM