Winters are cold and damp, and prevailing wind patterns that blow offshore minimize the moderating effects of the Atlantic Ocean; yet the Atlantic and the partial shielding from colder air by the Appalachians keep the city warmer in the winter than inland North American cities at similar or lesser latitudes such as Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis. The daily mean temperature in January, the area's coldest month, is 32.6 °F (0.3 °C); however, temperatures usually drop to 10 °F (−12 °C) several times per winter, and reach 50 °F (10 °C) several days each winter month. Spring and autumn are unpredictable and can range from chilly to warm, although they are usually mild with low humidity. Summers are typically warm to hot and humid, with a daily mean temperature of 76.5 °F (24.7 °C) in July and an average humidity level of 72%. Nighttime conditions are often exacerbated by the urban heat island phenomenon, while daytime temperatures exceed 90 °F (32 °C) on average of 17 days each summer and in some years exceed 100 °F (38 °C). In the warmer months, the dew point, a measure of atmospheric moisture, ranges from 57.3 °F (14.1 °C) in June to 62.0 °F (16.7 °C) in August. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −15 °F (−26 °C), recorded on February 9, 1934, up to 106 °F (41 °C) on July 9, 1936. COUNT 8
QSN1 What mountains serve as a barrier to keep New York City comparatively warmer in the winter? ANS1 Appalachians QSN2 What is New York City's daily January mean temperature in degrees celsius? ANS2 0.3 QSN3 What is the average humidity in July as a percentage? ANS3 72% QSN4 On average, how often do New York temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit each year? ANS4 17 QSN5 On what date did New York record its highest temperature ever? ANS5 July 9, 1936 QSN6 What is the highest temperature recorded in NYC? ANS6 106 QSN7 When was the lowest temperature recorded in NYC? ANS7 1934 QSN8 The highest temperature ever recorded in NYC was in what year? ANS8 1936