New York, NY sees sunny skies and a high near 82°F today, so get outside now — showers and thunderstorms take over the five boroughs starting Tuesday morning.
Today’s Setup
Monday is about as clean as summer forecasts get: sunny, a high near 82°F, and a light northeast wind at just 2 to 8 mph. Tonight stays quiet too — partly cloudy, a low around 70°F, south wind 7 to 10 mph, and only a 3% chance of rain. Enjoy it, because the pattern flips fast.
Best Window To Be Outside
Today through tonight is your window — Central Park, the Hudson River waterfront, and any rooftop in the city will feel great with low humidity and calm winds. It’s also a walk-friendly commute day for subway riders skipping the rain gear entirely.
Rain, Wind, Or Storm Risk
According to the National Weather Service, a primary low pressure system tracks east through southeast Canada Tuesday into Wednesday, with a secondary low along a warm front crossing the area Tuesday and a trailing cold front moving through Wednesday. Expect a chance of showers between 8 and 11 a.m. Tuesday, then showers and thunderstorms likely from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., continuing into the evening and overnight — Tuesday’s chance of precipitation is 80% with a quarter to half inch of rain, and Tuesday night jumps to 90% with three-quarters to one inch possible. Some storms could turn strong to severe, with damaging wind gusts the main threat, large hail possible, and a low tornado chance near the advancing warm front. Chances drop off west to east Wednesday as the cold front clears out.
What To Wear Or Bring
Today, light layers and sunglasses are all you need. For Tuesday, pack a rain jacket and waterproof shoes, and secure anything loose outdoors — outdoor furniture covers and a bungee cord assortment are smart insurance against those gustier storm cells.
Yankees, Pirates, And Hamilton This Week
The New York Yankees host the Pittsburgh Pirates at Yankee Stadium tonight (July 20), Tuesday (July 21), and Wednesday (July 22). Tonight’s game should play out under sunny, calm skies — great tailgating weather, especially with a pop-up canopy tent with weights for shade. Tuesday’s matchup, though, lines up right with the likely thunderstorms, so fans heading to the Bronx should watch for delays. Gear up with a New York Yankees jersey or New York Yankees fitted cap, and grab tickets on SeatGeek for any of the three games. Meanwhile, Hamilton continues at the Richard Rodgers Theatre with a Tuesday, July 21 show — indoors, so the storms won’t touch it. Consider tickets on StubHub as your rain-day plan B.
Tonight’s Dinner
Calm winds and low humidity make today ideal for firing up the grill — burgers, steaks, or grilled chicken with corn on the cob before Tuesday’s rain makes outdoor cooking a hassle. Keep an instant-read meat thermometer on hand for perfectly cooked meat and a grill brush and scraper set for easy cleanup. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Enjoy today and tonight while they last. Tuesday and Tuesday night bring likely showers and thunderstorms, some potentially strong, with gusty winds and heavy rain rates possible. Wednesday clears west to east behind the cold front. If pool days are still on your mind once the rain clears, the 2-Person Intex Floating Lounge with Cooler is worth a look for $24 on Amazon.
