Welcome to New York’s record-setting summer — in springtime.
City residents basked in a welcome bit of beach weather Thursday, with sunshine and temperatures in Central Park climbing just short of 90 degrees to the delight and surprise of New Yorkers.
The high temperature of 89 degrees set a new April 13 record for Manhattan and caught an over-dressed A’Quinton Ocasio, 29, by surprise as he walked in a sweatshirt along Lenox Ave. in Harlem.
“It’s hot, baby!” he said. “I’m fanning myself because I am not dressed accordingly. The weather is back and forth. One day it’s winter, and then today we are in summer.”
The mercury climbed steadily through the day as the National Weather Service forecast called for “wall-to-wall sunshine” — leading other New Yorkers to break out their summer clothes.
Nadine Torres, 52, wore shorts, a tank top and sunglasses as she walked her two dogs through Harlem.
“I wasn’t really expecting it,” said Torres of the sun-splashed April day. “I am happy about it, yes! I decided to put on flip-flops so that the sun could hit my feet. Get a little vitamin D on my toes.”
The previous record April 13 high for Central Park was set in 1977 with a temperature of 88 degrees, according to the NWS.
“Sunshine and unseasonably warm weather in the region through Friday,” read their hot take on the forecast. “Temperatures soar into the 80s for much of the area both Thursday and Friday, with record highs possible.”
Low humidity and light winds across the five boroughs contributed to the summer vibes only four days after Easter Sunday.
The forecast warned the warmth was likely to disappear over the weekend, with showers and thunderstorms expected Saturday afternoon and temperatures dropping into the 60s.
Ocasio, reacting to the mini-heatwave, said he was heading home to change up his wardrobe.
“I’m not trying to sweat right now,” he said. “I’ve got on two layers of socks. Why? I don’t know.”