NYC Weather: Freak Heatwave To Bring Spring In January

NEW YORK CITY – It might feel like freezing midwinter now but, weirdly, spring is just around the corner. A freak January heatwave is expected to bring record temperatures this weekend.

The mercury is expected to rise nearly 30 degrees from the frigid 34 degrees of Thursday to a balmy 66 forecast for Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. That would tie the record for the hottest January 12 ever recorded, set in 2017.

The warm air is being pushed up from the south by a storm that will be hitting the Mississippi Valley, according to AccuWeather.com.

The heat will rise steadily, with 64 degrees forecast for Saturday and 66 for Sunday, before falling again. Monday will see 49 degrees, the NWS said.

The normal high for January 12 is 38 degrees, the NWS said.

Here's the forecast is more detail, courtesy of the NWS:

Friday

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Southwest wind around 9 mph.

Friday Night
Areas of fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph.

Saturday
A 20 percent chance of showers before 1pm. Areas of fog before 1pm, then patchy fog after 5pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. South wind 8 to 13 mph.

Saturday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1am. Patchy fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 55. South wind 11 to 15 mph.

Sunday
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10am, then a chance of showers between 10am and 1pm. Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 66. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 41.

Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 49.