Manhattanhenge is once again supposed to illuminate Manhattan’s roadways over the next two days — but gloomy weather could put a damper on the biannual phenomenon.
The solar event will occur on Friday, when “the setting Sun aligns precisely with the Manhattan street grid, creating a radiant glow of light across Manhattan’s brick and steel canyons,” according to the American Museum of Natural History.
Prime viewing time is expected to occur around 8:20 p.m., unless cloudy skies block out the sun
“A Flood Watch is in effect for NYC from noon today, Friday, until 6PM tomorrow, Saturday, with 1-2 inches of showers and thunderstorms producing heavy downpours possible,” the NYC Emergency Management said in a post on X.
While temperatures will remain relatively moderate Friday, with highs in the low 80s, AccuWeather warned of intense humidity, which could make viewing Manhattanhenge all the more uncomfortable.
New Yorkers will have another chance to catch Manhattanhenge on Saturday, though only about half the sun will line up with the borough’s grid. The best time to catch the phenomenon is 8:21 p.m., but weather could once again stamp out the glow.
On Saturday, with highs again hovering in the low 80s, scattered thunderstorms are expected to move through the city, though the evening hours are slated to be less gray and cloudy.
Neil deGrasse Tyson, head of the Hayden Planetarium, coined the term “Manhattanhenge” in 1997. It occurs twice a year, the first time about three weeks before the summer solstice, and then another about three weeks after.
Here are some of the best places to watch:
- 14th Street
- 23rd Street
- 34th Street
- 42nd Street
- 57th Street
- Tudor City Overpass in Manhattan
- Hunter’s Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens
