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Climate in New York, New York: Monthly Weather Averages

By the AverageClimate Editorial Team · Last updated: October 2026

New York sits at 130 feet above sea level, and its climate, as recorded at the New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY station, runs to a yearly mean of 55.8°F. The warmest month is July, averaging 77.5°F with typical highs of 84.9°F; the coldest is January, averaging 33.7°F with lows around 27.9°F. Across a normal year the city receives 49.5 in of precipitation and 29.8 in of snow. The full month-by-month picture below comes from the official 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals — the 30-year averages the National Weather Service itself uses — so it describes the New York climate you should actually plan around, whether you are timing a visit, weighing a move, or just settling an argument about which month is best.

New York climate month by month

The table below is the complete 1991–2020 normals profile for New York: average high, average low and mean temperature, rainfall, and snowfall for every month. Read down the Mean column to feel the year's rhythm — New York's temperature range runs from 33.7°F in January to 77.5°F in July.

How to read the colors:below freezingcoldcoolmildwarmhot. Bands are colored by each cell's own temperature, so a whole year reads at a glance.

New York through the seasons

Winter in New York averages highs of 39.5–44.3°F and lows of 27.9–33.8°F, a seasonal mean of 36.2°F. The three months together bring 11.2 in of precipitation — about 23% of the city's yearly total — with December the wettest of the three at 4.38 in. Snowfall averages 23.8 in over the season, most of it in February (10.1 in). It is a genuinely cold season — heavy coats, freezing nights, and the year's most changeable weather — without being locked below freezing around the clock.

Spring in New York averages highs of 49.9–71.4°F and lows of 35.8–55.0°F, a seasonal mean of 53.2°F. The three months together bring 12.3 in of precipitation — about 25% of the city's yearly total — with March the wettest of the three at 4.29 in. Snowfall averages 5.4 in over the season, most of it in March (5.0 in). The season is a transition: the average temperature climbs 20.4°F from March to May, and by late spring New York is firmly into mild territory, with May rainfall of 3.96 in to plan around.

Summer in New York averages highs of 79.7–84.9°F and lows of 64.4–70.1°F, a seasonal mean of 75.2°F. The three months together bring 13.7 in of precipitation — about 28% of the city's yearly total — with July the wettest of the three at 4.60 in. It is a warm, usable summer: afternoons are hot enough for swimming and lake or coast time, while evenings usually cool off comfortably.

Fall in New York averages highs of 54.0–76.2°F and lows of 42.0–62.3°F, a seasonal mean of 58.4°F. The three months together bring 12.3 in of precipitation — about 25% of the city's yearly total — with October the wettest of the three at 4.38 in. Snowfall averages 0.6 in over the season, most of it in November (0.5 in). Temperatures ease off through the season — the monthly mean drops 21.2°F from September to November — and fall is when New York's weather turns crisp and dry, while nights stay mostly frost-free into December.

Best and worst months to visit New York

Ranking every month by its normals — mild mean temperatures score best, heavy rain and snow count against — the most comfortable months to visit New York are:

JuneAugustSeptember

June leads the list: average highs of 79.7°F, lows of 64.4°F, and 4.54 in of rain, with snow a non-factor at 0.0 in. The other picks, August and September, offer the same balance in New York's mild stretch of the year. At the other end, January is usually the month to avoid — deep-winter cold, with a mean temperature of 33.7°F and 3.64 in of precipitation plus 8.8 in of snow.

How New York compares

Across the 114 cities in our dataset, the typical city averages 57.8°F for the year and 35.7 in of precipitation. New York runs 2.0°F cooler than that typical city and wetter by 13.9 in a year, ranking #62 of 114 for annual warmth and #21 of 114 for precipitation (wettest first). Its year-round temperature swing — warmest month minus coldest — is 43.8°F, which puts it in the moderate, clearly seasonal camp.

Within New York, New York is the warmest of the cities we track. See the New York climate overview for the full state comparison, including New York (warmest, 55.8°F yearly mean) and Buffalo (coolest, 48.8°F).

Planning notes for New York

For anyone relocating: average overnight lows drop below freezing in 2 months (January, February), so heating, winter tires, and pipe protection are real seasonal concerns; highs reach the 80s on average in 2 months, but 90°F average highs never arrive; 6 months of the year average between 55°F and 80°F, the band most people find comfortable without heating or cooling. Those four facts, all straight from the normals table above, shape everything from a New York wardrobe to its utility bills.

New York climate FAQ

Source: 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) — ncei.noaa.gov. Station: New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY (USW00094728), elevation 130 ft. Figures checked October 2026.