A Day of National Mourning
As the nation mourns the loss of life from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the weather across the three memorial sites is expected to be very similar to how it was 20 years to the day. Across New York City, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. the forecast calls for mild weather with sunny skies, calm winds, and comfortable temperatures in the mid-70s to lower 80s. A forecast that is strikingly similar—for example, in 2001 the high for New York City was 83 degrees and this Saturday in 2021 it will be 78 degrees.
A high-pressure system is providing dry conditions with little to no chance for rain across the Northeast. Clear skies and comfortable temperatures are expected at memorial services across the area this weekend.
Nearly 3,000 people from 78 countries died on 9/11 when terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda hijacked three planes, and flew one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and two into the World Trade Center buildings in New York City. A fourth hijacked plane crashed in Shanksville, PA when passengers fought back against the attackers. A memorial site was opened to the public on September 11, 2011, to commemorate the 10th anniversary. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum followed, opening on the original World Trade Center site in May 2014. The Freedom Tower, also on the original World Trade Center site, opened in November of that same year.