Climate of North America

World Climates covers 453 places in North America. By annual mean temperature, the warmest is Port-au-Prince (29 °C84 °F) and the coolest is Nuuk (0 °C31 °F). The wettest is Tapachula with 2,570 mm101 in of precipitation per year, the driest San Luis Río Colorado with 84 mm3.3 in.

The most common climate types (Köppen classification computed from these averages) are humid subtropical (Cfa, 86 places), hot-summer humid continental (Dfa, 71 places), hot semi-arid (BSh, 68 places) and tropical savanna (dry winter) (Aw, 57 places).

The highest monthly average high is in Mexicali (44 °C112 °F in July); the lowest monthly average low is in Winnipeg (−22 °C−8 °F in January).

Across the places in North America, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are February, March and November (190, 206 and 195 of 453 places respectively).

Temperature and rainfall across North America

Annual mean temperatures in North America range from 0 °C31 °F to 29 °C84 °F. The typical place (the median of all 453) has a year average of 18 °C65 °F. Annual precipitation ranges from 84 mm3.3 in to 2,570 mm101 in. The median place receives about 926 mm36 in in an average year.

In 164 places of 453, the coldest month has an average low below 0 °C (32 °F). In 288 places, the warmest month has an average high above 30 °C (86 °F). 10 places get less than 250 mm (10 in) of precipitation a year, which is very dry. 8 places get more than 2,000 mm (79 in), which is very wet.

Averaged over all 453 places, July is the warmest month, with a mean of 25 °C78 °F. January is the coldest, with 10 °C50 °F. The wettest month on average is September (109 mm4.3 in). The driest is February (49 mm1.9 in). Single places can differ a lot from this average, so check the page of each city.

The table below lists the places sorted by population. The largest ones covered here are Mexico City, New York City and Los Angeles. Each city page has a chart and a table for every month. It also shows the best time to visit and what to pack. The figures are 25-year averages for 2001–2025 from NASA POWER. They describe grid cells of roughly 50–70 km, not single weather stations.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the warmest place in North America?

By annual mean temperature, the warmest place in North America is Port-au-Prince at 29 °C84 °F. The coolest is Nuuk at 0 °C31 °F.

Where does it rain the most in North America?

Tapachula gets the most precipitation, 2,570 mm101 in in an average year. The driest place is San Luis Río Colorado with 84 mm3.3 in.

How many places in North America does this site cover?

World Climates has climate data for 453 places in North America. Each one has a page with monthly averages for temperature, rainfall, humidity and daylight.

When is the best time to visit North America?

It depends on the place. Across North America, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are February, March and November. Check the page of each city for its own best months.