New York, NY Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of New York
New York runs one of the wider annual swings in our dataset: 24°C separates the average July from the average January. Afternoons reach 85°F (30°C) at the peak of summer and 40°F (4°C) at the depth of winter, with 128 days of measurable precipitation through the year.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 85°F (30°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 40°F (4°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 100°F (38°C) high · -5°F (-20°C) low
- Wettest month: July (13 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (11.6 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 24°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 9°C
- Snow: about 10 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 3
- Average humidity: 71%
Temperatures through the year
July is the brightest month at 11.6 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 8.6. Warmth peaks in July: highs of 85°F (30°C), lows of 69°F (21°C). January is the coolest month, with highs of 40°F (4°C) and lows near 26°F (-3°C). The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 100°F (38°C) and bottoms at -5°F (-20°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. Between the average July and the average January lie 24°C, a wider spread than roughly 80% of the cities we track.
Rain, sun and snow
Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 3 months, December through February.
How New York compares
- 29% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more evenly spread than all but 9% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 26° | 10 | 3.9 in | 6.1 h/day | 68% |
| February | 43° | 26° | 10 | 3.6 in | 6.9 h/day | 69% |
| March | 49° | 33° | 10 | 4.5 in | 8.2 h/day | 66% |
| April | 60° | 42° | 12 | 4.2 in | 8.8 h/day | 67% |
| May | 70° | 53° | 12 | 3.7 in | 9.9 h/day | 71% |
| June | 79° | 62° | 11 | 3.9 in | 11.1 h/day | 71% |
| July | 85° | 69° | 13 | 5.5 in | 11.6 h/day | 73% |
| August | 83° | 68° | 12 | 4.5 in | 10.9 h/day | 74% |
| September | 77° | 62° | 10 | 4.7 in | 9.1 h/day | 75% |
| October | 66° | 51° | 9 | 4.9 in | 7.8 h/day | 74% |
| November | 54° | 39° | 9 | 3.0 in | 7.1 h/day | 70% |
| December | 45° | 32° | 11 | 4.5 in | 5.6 h/day | 73% |
New York month by month
New York weather in January
January brings highs around 40°F (4°C), lows near 26°F (-3°C), about 10 wet days and roughly 3 snowy days - typically the coldest month of the year in New York.
New York weather in February
February brings highs around 43°F (6°C), lows near 26°F (-3°C), about 10 wet days and roughly 3 snowy days.
New York weather in March
March brings highs around 49°F (10°C), lows near 33°F (0°C), about 10 wet days and roughly 2 snowy days.
New York weather in April
April brings highs around 60°F (16°C), lows near 42°F (6°C), about 12 wet days.
New York weather in May
May brings highs around 70°F (21°C), lows near 53°F (12°C), about 12 wet days.
New York weather in June
June brings highs around 79°F (26°C), lows near 62°F (17°C), about 11 wet days.
New York weather in July
July brings highs around 85°F (30°C), lows near 69°F (21°C), about 13 wet days - typically the hottest month and the wettest month and the sunniest month of the year in New York.
New York weather in August
August brings highs around 83°F (28°C), lows near 68°F (20°C), about 12 wet days.
New York weather in September
September brings highs around 77°F (25°C), lows near 62°F (16°C), about 10 wet days.
New York weather in October
October brings highs around 66°F (19°C), lows near 51°F (11°C), about 9 wet days.
New York weather in November
November brings highs around 54°F (12°C), lows near 39°F (4°C), about 9 wet days - typically the driest month of the year in New York.
New York weather in December
December brings highs around 45°F (7°C), lows near 32°F (0°C), about 11 wet days and roughly 2 snowy days.
Seasons in New York
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, New York is mild: 60°F (15°C) by day, 43°F (6°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 34 of the 90 days, plus about 3 snowy days.
Summer (June through August)
Through summer, New York sits firmly in the heat: 82°F (28°C) by day, 67°F (19°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 36 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.2 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Fall in New York stays on the cool side of mild, with daytime highs averaging 66°F (19°C) and nights around 51°F (10°C); expect showers on roughly 27 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Through winter, New York runs cold: 42°F (6°C) by day, 28°F (-2°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 30 of the 90 days, plus about 8 snowy days.
Climate questions, answered
How sunny is New York?
Is New York humid?
How cold does New York get in winter?
How hot does New York get in summer?
How often does it rain in New York?
Best time to visit New York
Aim for May to June and September to October if you get the choice: warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up, and highs average 73°F (23°C) against roughly 10 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.
Pack for New York with light clothing for the warm months, a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and a compact umbrella or rain shell. July nights average 69°F (21°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
New York temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.