Earliest 97-Degree Day on Record Hits the Hudson Valley

Heat Wave Hits the Hudson Valley in May

I recently saw a meme that said "It's called May because...it May be hot. It May be cold. It May rain. It May snow." And I felt that within my soul.

The weather for May 2026 has been all over the map. Kicking off the month were a string of perfectly warm days, we're talking temperatures in the 80s, followed by cold, rainy days where sweatshirts were required.

Then there was this week. The week of May 18th, 2026, where the forecast called for hot and hazy conditions.

A heat wave hit the region, with scorching hot temps reaching the 90s and a Heat Advisory. It's not even officially summer yet, but it feels like the middle of July.

Turns out mother nature threw the Hudson Valley some record breaking numbers.

Hudson Valley Temperatures Reach Record Breaking Levels

When it comes to weather, there's one person the Hudson Valley turns to... Meteorologist Ben Noll.

Whether its rain, sleet, snow or heat, Noll has what seems to be the most accurate read. He's originally from Orange County, but currently lives in New Zealand and works for The Washington Post.

As we sweat it out this week, Noll was keeping watch and shared that this is the hottest the Hudson Valley has been so early in the season.

Our favorite meteorologist shared the following:

Noll added in the comment section "Considering weather data from Poughkeepsie that dates back to 1931, it has previously reached 96 on May 8, May 18, and May 19."

He continued:

There’s also a chance the official temperature snuck up to 97, which would be reported in the daily climate report on Tuesday evening. If it did, it would become the earliest 97 on record.

Then, the numbers rolled in and Noll shared his update:

Update #2: it officialy reached 97 at the weather station in Poughkeepsie, making it he earliest 97-degree temperature or higher observed this early in the year on record.

Noll  states that the previous record was 98-degrees on May 22nd.

What's The Rest of May 2026 Look Like Weather-Wise?

According to Nolls future forecast, Memorial Day Weekend 2026 looks like a washout.

After the Monday through Wednesday heat wave, temperatures will drop considerably. Noll says the sun "might depart in time for the weekend as rain chances increase" for Saturday and Sunday.

The "sustained high heat looks unlikely" for the week of May 25th, 2026.

Keep an eye on Noll's social media accounts as he'll publish his summer outlook for the Hudson Valley within the next few weeks.