New York weather
New York weather provides everything from snow in winter through to hot and sometimes very humid summer weather.
New York weather averages and climate
Lying on the eastern seaboard of the United States of America, New York is on the same latitude as Madrid, Spain. Due to the density of its population and, particularly in Manhattan, the number of highrise buildings that trap heat and stall air movement, it can become very humid.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 5.2 | 9.5 | 16.0 | 21.4 | 26.7 | 29.9 | 29.0 | 24.9 | 18.5 | 12.4 | 6.7 | 17.0 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -2.8 | -1.7 | 1.8 | 7.1 | 12.2 | 17.6 | 20.4 | 19.9 | 16.0 | 10.0 | 5.3 | 0.0 | 8.8 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 57 | 59 | 58 | 62 | 64 | 62 | 65 | 66 | 64 | 62 | 61 | 62 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | 77 | 91 | 99 | 97 | 93 | 97 | 87 | 84 | 73 | 93 | 87 | 1059 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12.6 | 12.8 | 12.4 | 11.6 | 10.5 | 9.9 | 9.6 | 9.2 | 10.1 | 10.7 | 11.5 | 12.3 | 11.1 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 4.3 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 17.0 |
Due to its geographical location near the Atlantic Ocean and where the Hudson River meets the sea, New York sees very distinct seasons. While summer can be hot and sticky, winter is marked by bitter cold and freezing temperatures. Heavy snowfall is not unusual between December and March, but this gives way to rainfall of more than 90mm per month between April and June.
Autumn is a very popular time for tourists to visit as the weather is still warm but the humidity has abated. Less rain and temperatures of between 12 and 25 °C combine with the colourful autumnal trees to make this an ideal time to visit.
When is the best time to go to New York?
Early autumn is the perfect time to experience New York with temperatures lying in a comfortable range between 18 °C and 25 °C without the high humidity of the summer months. There’s also less rain during September and October than in the preceding five months and little chance of snow.
New York weather in January
Deep in winter, January is the coldest month of the year in New York thanks to its continental climate. Daily highs will average at 4°C, though this can vary quite widely day by day so plenty of warm layers are essential. Overnight temperatures will usually dip below 0°C. The cold means that January is the most likely month to see snow and ice, with an average 6 days of snowfall during the month. At other times there is a risk of cold or even freezing rain, with 81mm recorded during January.
The snow can make the city quite beautiful during January, especially in Central Park. It may be a bit of a biting wind too, but the tall buildings of Manhattan may provide some shelter. There is often a fair amount of cloud around, but there are usually a handful of sunny days over the course of January, averaging at 5 hours of sunshine a day.
New York weather in February
February is one of the coldest months of the year, but it is also one of the driest, and temperatures do tend to rise towards the end of the month. Daily highs average at 5.2°C, and will usually drop below 0°C at night, sometimes much lower, so a hat and some gloves are essential. Snow is likely at some point, with 4 days of snowfall on average, along with some wet spells giving 77mm of rain over the month.
Sunshine amounts tend to increase slightly as the month progresses, with 6 hours on average each day. The wind might be fairly brisk at times, though the tall buildings may offer some shelter.
New York weather in March
March is the start of spring in New York, and conditions can be very unpredictable, so keep an eye on the forecast. There is a noticeable trend of rising temperatures over the course of the month. Daily highs will average at 9.5°C overall, but towards the end of the month temperatures may reach well into the mid to high teens.
There will be an increase in the amount of sunny days in March compared to February, with 7 hours of sunshine a day, but some rain is still expected giving totals of 91mm. Snow is possible too, especially towards the start of the month, so you may still need to pack a winter jacket.
New York weather in April
Spring has taken over New York in April, and temperatures will usually reach highs of 16°C on average. Temperatures can vary widely day to day, so layers are key to being comfortable in April. The weather can also be unpredictable, with 99mm of rain on average through the month, so an umbrella may be needed.
There is a greater chance of seeing sunshine than March with 8 hours expected each day. Snow is fairy infrequent in April, with less than a day of snowfall on average. It is often fairly windy, but less so than in the winter months.
New York weather in May
May quickly warms up in New York, with average highs of 21.4°C and 9 hours of warm sunshine a day. This means May can be a good time to visit before the summer heat, but it’s still one of the wettest months of the year, with 97mm of rain on average from heavy showers.
New York weather in June
You will definitely start to feel the heat in New York by the time June rolls around. Temperatures will reach highs of 26.7°C on average, and there will be plenty of sunshine around with 10 hours on average a day – and UV levels will be high. While most days will be dry, it rain is still very possible in the form of showers or thunderstorms bringing 93mm of rain during the month, so you may well need to bring an umbrella.
New York weather in July
Hot temperatures are pretty much guaranteed during July with average highs of 29.9°C, and there will usually be around 7 days where temperatures exceed 32°C. Generally it will be quite humid too, and overnight temperatures will often remain above 20°C.
Heavy thundery showers often occur during July, bringing 97mm of rain on average, but most days will be dry with 10 hours of hot sunshine a day, so don’t forget the sunscreen.
New York weather in August
August is a hot and humid month in New York, with average highs of 29.0°C and with a few days above 32°C, though towards the end of the month things start to cool off slightly. Most days are sunny with 9 hours of sunshine a day, but there is still a risk of heavy thundery showers through the month which will bring 87mm of rain.
New York weather in September
September brings comfortable temperatures to New York, which makes this a popular time of year to visit. Daily highs will average at 24.9°C and there is usually 8 hours of warm sunshine a day, but by the end of September highs in the low 20s are more likely.
There is always the risk of rain in New York however, but with 84mm of rain on average September is one of the driest months to visit.
New York weather in October
October is one of the most popular times to visit New York, as temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold with average highs of 18.5°C. The start of October is notably warmer than the end, with highs starting at 21°C and later dropping to 16°C. Most days have decent spells of sunshine, with 7 hours on average a day. October is also the driest month of the year, with only 73mm of rain expected throughout the month.
New York weather in November
Cooler conditions start to properly set in during November in New York, with average highs of 12.4°C. This will vary considerably through the month, so lots of layers are necessary as overnight temperatures start to tend towards freezing. As November progresses a bit of snow is possible too, though this is much rarer than in December.
It is more likely that you will see some rain, with 93mm of rain a month. Sunshine amounts also decrease through the month, with an average of 6 hours a day.
New York weather in December
The start of December can be fairly mild in New York, but by the end it will be very cold with temperatures struggling to get much above freezing, so plenty of winter gear is essential. On average temperatures will reach highs of 6.7°C. Some snow is likely at some point, with around 3 days of snowfall during the month.
Winds will start to pick up into December, though the buildings can provide some shelter. Normally there I around 87mm of cold rain throughout the month, but there will be decent sunny spells around at times with 5 hours of sunshine a month.
New York tourist information
So good they named it twice, New York lies within the state of New York, and is the most populous city in the United States. Culturally rich, with over 800 languages being spoken within the confines of the city, New York boasts significant influence over areas such as commerce, fashion, media, art, fashion and entertainment.
New York weather can become very hot and humid in the summer, as tropical air occasionally pushes northwards, with occasional bitterly cold blasts from Canada. As we saw with Hurricane Sandy, tropical storms can also impact the city during late summer and early to mid autumn.
As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, there are a tremendous variety of attractions to see and things to do. The five boroughs of New York are home to some of the most famous landmarks in history; from the back drop of Hollywood films and hit TV Series to the iconic Statue of Liberty.
The sheer scale of the New York skyline is incredible. The buildings are tall, the streets are long, and there are thousands of people milling about.
Top of the list of places to visit first should be a trip to the summit of either the Empire State Building or the Rockefeller Centre, for an awe-inspiring view of the city from above. This perfect panoramic picture from over 100 stories high on either tower gives a view over New York like no other.
Art and history connoisseurs alike will be at home wondering around New York's myriad of museums and galleries. 'Museum Mile' - a stretch of Fifth Avenue from East 82nd to East 105th Streets - is home to many of the world's most famous galleries and museums, including the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Jewish Museum, to name a few. Across Central Park you can find the American Museum of Natural History, which is well worth a visit and is family friendly.
Central Park itself is synonymous with the entertainment business. Many Hollywood movies and hit TV series have been filmed in and around this 843 acre runner's paradise. Populated by winding walkways and serene lakes, the park is equally as beautiful in both summer and winter. As you walk around you will notice many people playing sports on the luscious grass, and bikers cruising around the perimeter of the park.
Of course the other boroughs in New York have plenty to offer. Tours around the various areas of the city are popular, as well as taking the ferry out to Staten Island. Here you can take in the views of the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge. New York is bound to leave visitors wanting to go back again and again to experience everything this great city has to offer.