A heat wave gripped New Jersey during Easter weekend in 1976

Do you recall the extreme heat that baked the Northeast during Easter weekend in 1976?

Records throughout the region between April 17 and April 19 were smashed, and many still remain, according to AccuWeather. In Toms River, the thermometer soared to 90 degrees on this day, setting a record that still stands. Just to the north in New York City, Central Park reported a 96 degree reading on Easter.

“Exceptionally strong high pressure, comparable to those of many summer heat waves, set the stage for the abnormally early heat. Strong sunshine and vegetation still lacking leaves contributed to the extreme temperatures,” wrote AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews.

I was born in 1980, so I don’t recall. 

But my parents do.

In fact, my mother, Marlene, experienced a “flashbulb memory” of Easter 1976, telling me that a pie she made didn’t fare too well.

“I prepared a grasshopper pie, which is made with crème de menthe, and it was literally dripping down my arm when I was walking into grandma’s house,” she said. “When I walked in, my dress had green spots.” 

No doubt there are plenty of memories of that historic Easter weekend.

While many areas away from the coast reached the 80s yesterday and 70s are on tap for most today, we’re not close to the conditions 40 years ago this week.