New York vs Los Angeles: Weather & Climate Compared
On annual averages, Los Angeles is warmer overall, Los Angeles is sunnier, and New York has more rainy days. The monthly comparison shows when that result changes.
New York vs Los Angeles weather right now
At this moment, Los Angeles is the warmer of the two by 21°F (12°C).
Small regional differences that change the experience
Across the year, Los Angeles is the warmer of the two: its annual average of 65°F (18°C) beats New York's 54°F (12°C) by roughly 10.3°F (5.7°C).
For the full seasonal context behind this comparison, see the New York monthly climate guide and Los Angeles monthly climate guide.
Differences that matter for a regional choice
- Sunshine: expect more blue sky in Los Angeles - 10.5 sun hours a day on average, against 8.6 in New York.
- Rain: the rain gauge favors Los Angeles: 37 wet days a year to New York's 128.
- Snow: New York is the snowy one, averaging about 10 snow days a year.
- Peak heat: the hottest stretch lands in July for New York (85°F (30°C)) and August for Los Angeles (90°F (32°C)).
- Coldest nights: January lows of 26°F (-3°C) in New York; January lows of 46°F (8°C) in Los Angeles.
Which city has the easier sightseeing weather?
Counting months with average highs between 64°F and 82°F (18–28°C) and fewer than 12 wet days:
- New York: May, June, September, October (4 months)
- Los Angeles: January, February, March, April, May, November, December (7 months)
Both cities are at their most comfortable in May, the easiest window for a trip that takes in both.
New York vs Los Angeles month by month
| Month | New York high / low | Los Angeles high / low | New York rain days | Los Angeles rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° / 26° | 66° / 46° | 10 | 6 |
| February | 43° / 26° | 69° / 47° | 10 | 5 |
| March | 49° / 33° | 70° / 49° | 10 | 8 |
| April | 60° / 42° | 76° / 53° | 12 | 2 |
| May | 70° / 53° | 76° / 55° | 12 | 3 |
| June | 79° / 62° | 83° / 60° | 11 | 1 |
| July | 85° / 69° | 88° / 64° | 13 | 1 |
| August | 83° / 68° | 90° / 65° | 12 | 1 |
| September | 77° / 62° | 88° / 64° | 10 | 1 |
| October | 66° / 51° | 83° / 59° | 9 | 2 |
| November | 54° / 39° | 75° / 52° | 9 | 2 |
| December | 45° / 32° | 67° / 47° | 11 | 5 |
Sunshine, daylight and rain chance
| Month | New York sun | Los Angeles sun | New York daylight | Los Angeles daylight | New York wet-day chance | Los Angeles wet-day chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.1 h | 8.3 h | 9.6 h | 10.1 h | 32% | 19% |
| February | 6.9 h | 9.0 h | 10.6 h | 10.9 h | 34% | 18% |
| March | 8.2 h | 10.2 h | 11.8 h | 11.9 h | 33% | 26% |
| April | 8.8 h | 11.1 h | 13.2 h | 13.0 h | 40% | 8% |
| May | 9.9 h | 11.4 h | 14.4 h | 13.9 h | 37% | 9% |
| June | 11.1 h | 12.3 h | 15.1 h | 14.4 h | 35% | 2% |
| July | 11.6 h | 13.1 h | 14.8 h | 14.2 h | 43% | 2% |
| August | 10.9 h | 12.2 h | 13.8 h | 13.4 h | 40% | 3% |
| September | 9.1 h | 11.0 h | 12.4 h | 12.3 h | 32% | 4% |
| October | 7.8 h | 10.1 h | 11.0 h | 11.3 h | 29% | 7% |
| November | 7.1 h | 9.3 h | 9.8 h | 10.3 h | 29% | 8% |
| December | 5.6 h | 8.2 h | 9.3 h | 9.9 h | 35% | 15% |
Seasons compared
| Months | New York high / low | Los Angeles high / low | New York rain days | Los Angeles rain days | New York sun | Los Angeles sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December - February | 42° / 28° | 67° / 47° | 30 | 16 | 6.2 h | 8.5 h |
| March - May | 60° / 43° | 74° / 52° | 34 | 13 | 9.0 h | 10.9 h |
| June - August | 82° / 67° | 87° / 63° | 36 | 2 | 11.2 h | 12.5 h |
| September - November | 66° / 51° | 82° / 58° | 27 | 6 | 8.0 h | 10.1 h |
Who is warmer, month by month?
Los Angeles is warmer in every single month - the question is never which city is milder, only by how much. Come January the difference peaks near 26°F (15°C); by July New York almost catches up.
Dataset extremes, distance and time difference
- New York 2015–2024 extremes: highest daily value 100° in August, lowest -5° in January. These are reanalysis values, not all-time station records.
- Los Angeles 2015–2024 extremes: highest daily value 114° in September, lowest 32° in January. These are reanalysis values, not all-time station records.
- Distance: New York and Los Angeles are about 2,446 miles (3,936 km) apart as the crow flies.
- Time difference: New York is 3 hours ahead of Los Angeles right now.