It's officially hot! New York City breaks 1919 temperature record in Central Park; NJ deals with drought concerns
NEW YORK (WABC) -- It's been 96 years since it has been as hot as it is Tuesday on this date in New York City.
The 1 p.m. temperature reading at Central Park showed the temperature at 94 degrees. The previous record of 93 degrees for Sept. 8 was set in 1919.
Meteorologist Lee Goldberg first broke the news on Twitter:
And the temperatures kept rising, climbing to 97 degrees in the 2 p.m. hour:
Meteorologist Bill Evans said with the humidity factored in, it feels much closer to 100 degrees.
RELATED: Some Connecticut schools dismiss students early due to heat
So if you head out to the beaches for the extended swimming season, be sure to wear sunscreen and protect yourself from the sun.
And in addition to the harsh temperatures, parts of New Jersey are dealing with concerns over a growing drought that is impacting everything from lawns to produce.
When nearly nine inches of rain pounded the region in June, the fields at George Cassaday's farm in Monroeville flooded and the plants rotted.
Now, Cassaday has the opposite problem: The last four weeks have been too dry, meaning some of the sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and apples are growing to just half their normal size.
The problems with parched lands extend beyond farmers' fields. In the Pinelands, camp fires now must be two feet off the ground because of the dry conditions, and may be banned without more rain. The U.S. Drought Monitor has placed South Jersey in an "abnormally dry" zone, the lowest drought status, after less than an inch of rain fell in August. The month usually brings 3.5 inches.
The zone could expand into Southeastern Pennsylvania if the spell continues.
But New Jersey officials say that water restrictions are unlikely, and that thanks to the June soaking, water levels are not much lower than normal.
