Ok, I know exactly what you're thinking. Summer isn't over - at least not quite yet.

Well, for meteorologists, it's just about over. Meteorological fall begins on September 1st.

What You Need To Know

  • Summer 2020 started off drily, but overall, it was very wet

  • The middle of the summer had one of the longest heatwaves in years

  • Tropical Storm Isaias was NYC's most destructive storm since Hurricane Sandy

Meteorological seasons are evenly split, but into groups of three months. This makes climatology numbers much more simple and uniform from year to year. 

Summer 2020 began very dry in June with Central Park, not even exceeding an inch of rain until the very end of the month. This was followed by a very wet July and an August that is on pace to be wetter than normal.

It may have seemed like an exceptionally warm summer at times, but temperatures averaged near normal in June and August. July, however, was very hot with the most 90 degree days since 2010. 

As a season, summer 2020 was warmer than normal for NYC.

There were some significant weather events this summer that will make this year memorable, other than, of course, dealing with COVID-19.

The longest heatwave in several years happened from July 18th to the 23rd. The hottest temperatures reached were 97 degrees for two days in a row at LaGuardia Airport.

But, who could forget Tropical Storm Isaias. Thousands of large trees came down thanks to winds of 60 to 70 miles per hour. Many of these trees have yet to be cleaned up weeks later.

And a line of severe thunderstorms came through the city on August 25, 2020. This line left a trail of tree damage from the Bronx through Queens. 

This summer will be remembered as a summer of drama. With social unrest, COVID-19, and active weather, there weren't as many quiet days in the city as perhaps many of us hoped for.

But if we're looking on the bright side, we did have dozens of days with sunshine and warm temperatures which allowed New Yorkers to enjoy the parks, beaches, and outdoor dining.