As you shivered your way to work, you can at least be reassured that yesterday was the coldest August day since 1911 (when subways cost a nickel!). Yesterday's high was 59 degrees, taking the mantle of coldest August 21 ever.
Confirmed: Yesterday Was Freezing (For August)
Hot and Humid in the 4Cast
Thanks to a suggestion by our beloved publisher Gothamist Weather has recently become addicted to the weird daily weather video from PhearCreative. Usually filmed in Tompkins Square Park, the video features an engaging pre-teen girl presenting the weather forecast along with a series of groan-inducing snarky remarks and jokes. The weirdness is with the snark, as it usually contains references to pop culture, drugs or sex. The pop culture remarks would be fine if they referred to things ten-year olds knew about, but having a little kid make sex and drug jokes is more than a little creepy.
MTA Mind Games
With a century-old subway, we expect track work and construction to cause some issues with our travels. But when the subway's service advisories (via email and in-station signage) fail to communicate changes, what are riders supposed to do? Gothamist Weather's Joe Schumacher encountered the insane and inane "handling" of the diverted 2/3 service over the weekend, surmising that "All the MTA had to say was the 3 isn't running and the 2 is replaced by a local-running 5," but instead "put up three posters that contradict each other, are incomplete, or are just plain wrong." That last part seems to describe the MTA to a T at times. When Gothamist attempted to take the 2/3 from Chambers yesterday, an MTA employee had to personally tell the people waiting on the platform about the changes - the only sign that mentioned the 5 train was running was handwritten and not as noticeable. What good are the emailed service advisories from the MTA when one line runs on another's tracks isn't mentioned?
Previously on Gothamist
- Ask Gothamist gives you an idea on what to do with your old ticket stubs
Old Man Winter Not Dead Yet
How did you do getting home last night? Gothamist's walk to the apartment resulted in us walking into gale-force winds, making our face raw and eyes tears. And for more weather, check Accuweather and see what Gothamist Weather has to say later.
When Water Meets The Subway
How was your commute? Did you wear the galoshes? Gothamist on whether subways have drains and the wet and cranky commute last September. And just think - there would be so much pretty (but soon gross and slushy) snow if it were just, like, 15 degrees colder.
The Gates Start To Grow
Gothamist Weather's Joe Schumacher visited Central Park to see the nascent beginning of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's The Gates. He writes that the orange plastic guides around the steel footings (soon to be bases of the gates) don't seem to be permanent; Gothamist actually likes how they look, because it seems very whimsical to have these lining all the walkways instead. Not that we aren't waiting eagerly for February 12, when The Gates will be installed.
When The Weather Outside Is Frightful
Information from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. And if you're in an illegal sublet or your landlord is of the slumlord variety, you can look into buying space heaters or blankets at Bed Bath & Beyond. And see what Gothamist Weather says about the weather.
Right As Rain
Information about flash flooding from the city. More about the weather from Gothamist Weather.
On Twigs, Toothpicks and Dying Dogs
The month's parade of hurricanes have left a trail of really tired, annoying metaphors in their path. Lucky for us, Slate has collected the adjectives most often used by journalists to describe the havoc Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne have wreaked this hurricane season. Broken tree limbs? Twigs or toothpicks. Stuff you forgot to tie down outside? Those would be the hurricane's toys. Other favorites include locomotives and sardines.
NYC Transit, At The Mercy of Rain, Wind and Fire
More on the weather from Gothamist Weather. And, yesterday, a tunnel fire caused major chaos at Penn Station, as train service for the LIRR, NJ Transit, and Amtrak was affected and diverted. The NY Times found one commuter rather calm: "He shrugged off the aggravation, saying he was used to crowds and lines because he was from India. 'That's O.K.,' he said."
Previously on Gothamist
We hope you're been checking out our wonderful sub-blogs: Gothamist Arts & Events, Ask Gothamist (for advice), Gothamist Food, Gothamist Interview, Gothamist Sports, and Gothamist Weather. Plus the week in full.
Could it Be? Ivan Returns
Occasionally we field questions here at the Gothamist newsdesk. Here's one hot out the inbox:
Roundabout Taxi Trips
At first glance, it seems fair to us that you'd be charged more than the flat $45 from airport to Manhattan rate, since you're making a stop in Brooklyn that's out of the way of the cabbie (meaning that he'd lose money shuttling you to Brooklyn and then to Manhattan).
Summer Babes
No offense, Fleshbot, but it's obvious that there are only two real babes covering Hurricane Ivan. Jim Cantore can crawl back into the scary gym teacher corner from whence he came: I'm talking about CNN's Bill Hemmer and TWC's Mike Bettes.
How To Get The Hell Out
It's one of our favorite advertising slogans courtesy Time Out NY... 'Welcome to New York. Now get out." The NY Times answered a question from a reader yesterday about coastal evacuation signs that are posted high on lamposts in Astoria wondering what sort of impending doom prompted those. If a hurricane hits our low-lying city, the biggest risk comes not from the winds (although, they could be bad yes), but from the storm surge, the mass of water driven by winds and the low barometric pressure of the hurricane. You thought the subway drainage problem was bad? So how many of you have any clue if you should evacuate or how to evacuate if the situation arises?
Ivan, Ivan, Ivan, blah, blah, blah
Hurricane fatigue sets in at Gothamist Weather. Hurricane Ivan is extremely intense and destroying everything in its path. It is about to pass over western Cuba and enter the Gulf of Mexico, whereupon it looks to turn north and gradually weaken. Watch out Pensacola!
Rain on the Brain
Are you sick of talking about Wednesday's rain? If so you're not going to like Gothamist because we have a little back-to-school math quiz for you. Don't worry, it is only one question!
Your Extended 90-day Winter Forecast
Gothamist returns from vacation (oh how we missed you) to 80 degree weather, and news from the 2005 Farmers' Almanac that this year we are in for a wet winter. Whether that moisture will come as rain or snow seems up in the air according to them. Their press release states
Elsewhere on Gothamist
- Gothamist Interview serves up some sexy interviewee this week, like Tristan Taormino
National Weather Service vs. AccuWeather
Do you shop around for a weather forecast, or do you have a trusted forecaster that you rely on? While looking at the morning forecasts every day last week Gothamist couldn't help but notice that the National Weather Service and AccuWeather forecasts were often quite different, especially in the amount and timing of precipitation. We prefer the Weather Service because they provide a forecast discussion in which we can see the reasoning behind their forecast. We did not keep careful track of the forecasts but it seemed to us that AccuWeather was far more accurate, with the Weather Service repeatedly overforecasting the amount of rainfall.
Far From Perfect Storm
The NY Times reports that the thousands of home, both in Brooklyn and Westchester lost power; also, the 3.83 inches of rain that fell at JFK was a one-day record. Some airports are experiencing delays into this morning and are bracing for more rain today.
Dress Yourself in Galoshes and Raincoats
If Gothamist Weather were in LA today we'd have an easy forecast: foggy in the morning followed by a sunny afternoon. Highs in the 70s near the coast and in the 80s inland.

