- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Fake Spring Fools New Yorkers Yet Again
Sudden temperature swings leave students and residents frustrated with the city's unpredictable weather.
Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:03pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A Columbia University student describes the annual disappointment of New York City's 'fake spring' weather, where a brief warm spell is quickly followed by a return to cold temperatures, rain, and winter gloom, leaving residents feeling betrayed by the city's unreliable climate.
Why it matters
The cycle of false spring and sudden cold snaps is a frustrating annual ritual for many New Yorkers, who look forward to the return of warmer weather and outdoor activities, only to have their hopes dashed by the city's unpredictable climate patterns.
The details
The author describes a day when the temperature reached a balmy 68°F, prompting students to shed their winter coats and enjoy the sunshine on the campus lawns. However, the very next day the temperature plummeted back down to 32°F, forcing everyone to bundle up again. This pattern of 'fake spring' - a brief tease of warm weather followed by an abrupt return to winter - is something the author says they experience every year, leaving them feeling deceived and disappointed by the city's weather.
- On March 28, 2026, the temperature reached 68°F.
- The very next day, the temperature dropped back down to 32°F.
The players
Rita Wang
A Columbia University student who wrote about her frustration with New York City's unpredictable 'fake spring' weather patterns.
What they’re saying
“Fake spring in New York isn't just a weather pattern. It is a psychological war. It lures you with warmth, making you relax, and then immediately withdraws, leaving you cold, and betrayed.”
— Rita Wang, Columbia University student
The takeaway
New Yorkers' annual disappointment with the city's 'fake spring' weather highlights the frustration many urban residents feel with the unpredictability of climate change and the disruption it can cause to their daily lives and seasonal routines.
