In November, New Yorkers were wearing shorts and sandals instead of sweaters. Temperatures were the warmest for November on record.

November in New York City is typically when we see our weather turn from fall to winter. The days are short and we typically get our frist freeze, and sometimes our first snowflakes.

It's also the time of year when you see winter coats making their first appearences and most give up hope for warm weather and pine for spring.

Lately, our Novembers have been cold. Before this year, we saw three consecutive Novembers that averaged below normal temperatures in New York City. 

This November, that was not the case. We had record warmth and it seemed like our weather had gone backwards even though the calendar had gone forward.

November 2020 went into the record books as the warmest November on record. The average temperature for the month was 53 degrees.

The average is 47.7. 

The highlight of the warm weather was a six-day stretch where temperatures peaked in the 70s. We had double-digit temperature departures from normal, and the city came alive.

People were out enjoying outside dining. The streets had bikers and runners. It looked and felt like early October, except for the fact that the leaves were off of the trees. 

The reason for the warm weather was a strong area of high pressure that was anchored just off the East Coast. This weather system deflected storm systems away from the region and pumped in warm air from the deep south.

This is same weather pattern that produces heat waves during the summer. 

Not everyone liked the record warmth. Many people complained that it was hard to get into the mood of Thanksgiving when it felt more like Labor Day.

Also, November is part of the heating season in New York City. That means that regardless of the temperature, many apartments still have their heat automatically running. This made for a summer-like feeling for some.

Love it or hate it, the soaring November temperatures set records and will be something we all remember.