Weatherpedia

What is the weather like in New York?

During cold waves the sea surrounding New York may form a shallow ice cover.
During cold waves the sea surrounding New York may form a shallow ice cover. Picture: Pixabay

The climate of New York is mainly humid and continental. New York City receives regular precipitation throughout the year. Due to its location between the warm Gulf Stream and the big North American continent, weather patterns change rapidly.

Typically, the winters of New York are wet and cold meanwhile the summers are hot and humid. The temperature in the city can vary anywhere between its official heat record of 106 °F (41 °C) and cold record of −15 °F (−26 °C).

New York weather in summer: Mainly hot and humid

With all the Atlantic moisture available – and the heat waves arriving from the southern states – thunderstorms are common in New York especially during the summer months and in early autumn. Typically July is the wettest month in New York, the average precipitation amount being 4.60 in (117 mm).

Most of the rainfall in the summer months is caused by local thunderstorms. Towards the end of the summer and especially early autumn, there is a slight chance of hurricanes affecting the city. In total 85 tropical or subtropical cyclones have affected the state of New York since the 17th century.

These cyclones quite rarely make landfall to New York but the remnants of the cyclones might produce extremely heavy rainfall and even flooding. Statistically September is the month in which the effects of cyclones or hurricanes passing nearby can most often be felt.

The summers in New York are hot and humid. Thunderstorms and heat waves are not uncommon.
The summers in New York are hot and humid. Thunderstorms and heat waves are not uncommon. Picture: Pixabay

New York weather in winter: 12 snowy days on average per year

During the winters cold air masses coming from Canada often sweep through the eastern parts of the United States. This might bring very snowy conditions to the east coast since the winter storm development is typically triggered by the arctic air masses interacting with the warm Atlantic waters offshore New York. 

Overall, snowfall is a rare occurrence in New York, on average happening on 12 days annually. But when the snowy events occur, they might become violent.

On average, it snows on 12 days per year in New York.
On average, it snows on 12 days per year in New York. Picture: Pixabay

The Atlantic ocean modifies the weather in New York

The annual mean temperature in New York is 55 °F (12.8 °C) and the typical annual rainfall 49.94 in (1268 mm).

Generally speaking, most parts of the United States are prone to large seasonal swings in temperatures. However, New York sees less of them due to its proximity to the Atlantic ocean. The Atlantic modifies the temperatures in New York meaning that the temperatures in the city are milder than in many inland areas inland in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Monthly weather in New York (1981–2010 climate normals)
MonthDaily mean °F (°C)Avg daily max °F (°C)Avg daily min °F (°C)Avg precip inc (mm)
January32.6 (0.3)38.3 (3.5)26.9 (–2.8)3.65 (93)
February35.3 (1.8)41.6 (5.3)28.9 (–1.7)3.09 (78)
March42.5 (5.8)49.7 (9.8)35.2 (1.8)4.36 (111)
April53.0 (11.7)61.2 (16.2)44.8 (7.1)4.50 (114)
May62.4 (16.9)70.8 (21.6)54.0 (12.2)4.19 (106)
June71.5 (21.9)79.3 (26.3)63.6 (17.6)4.41 (112)
July76.5 (24.7)84.1 (28.9)68.8 (20.4)4.60 (117)
August75.2 (24.0)82.6 (28.1)67.8 (19.9)4.44 (113)
September68.0 (20.0)75.2 (24.0)60.8 (16.0)4.28 (109)
October56.9 (13.8)63.8 (17.7)50.0 (10.0)4.40 (112)
November47.7 (8.7)53.8 (12.1)41.6 (5.3)4.02 (102)
December37.5 (3.1)43.0 (6.1)32.0 (0.0)4.00 (102)

New York is prone to extreme weather

Extreme weather is not uncommon in New York. Severe meteorological events such as thunderstorms, hurricanes and blizzards can sometimes occur in the big city. Hurricane Sandy in 2012 was among the most destructive meteorological events New York has experienced. In the future the number of severe weather events to hit New York is feared to increase.

Article last updated 9/21/2021, 3:50:00 PM

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