Just days after the coldest Christmas in 22 years, there is a good chance that this New Year's will be one of the warmest.
When the clock strikes midnight, 2023 is likely to begin on the mild side, despite some rain. Temperatures in Times Square are forecast to be in the 50s. If the thermometer reads at least 50 degrees at midnight, that would place 2023 into the top five warmest ball drops on record.
The current record-holders for warmest midnight temperature are 1966 and 1973, when temperatures reached 58 degrees. Most people traded in winter jackets for light sweaters.
And last year was no different - as 2022 currently ranks as the fourth-warmest with a temperature of 51 degrees at midnight.
However, it comes with a bit of a price for anyone heading to the celebrations in midtown Manhattan or perhaps anywhere out and about across the tri-state Saturday night. Make sure to bring the umbrellas and ponchos as showers are expected through early Sunday. While not a washout, it will be a nuisance for travel and outdoor activities including the ball drop.
For hyperlocal updates on this important holiday forecast, make sure to check back every day with the News 12 Storm Watch Team, updating you with the latest timing and impacts with the near-record warmth and rain on the way.