New York climate

World Climates covers 8 places in New York. By annual mean temperature, the warmest is New York City (12 °C54 °F) and the coolest is Buffalo (9 °C49 °F). The wettest is New York City with 1,312 mm52 in of precipitation per year, the driest Buffalo with 947 mm37 in.

The most common climate types (Köppen classification computed from these averages) are hot-summer humid continental (Dfa, 6 places) and humid subtropical (Cfa, 2 places).

The highest monthly average high is in Staten Island (30 °C85 °F in July); the lowest monthly average low is in Albany (−9 °C16 °F in January).

Across the places in New York, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are May, June and September (5, 5 and 8 of 8 places respectively).

Temperature and rainfall across New York

Annual mean temperatures in New York range from 9 °C49 °F to 12 °C54 °F. The typical place (the median of all 8) has a year average of 11 °C51 °F. Annual precipitation ranges from 947 mm37 in to 1,312 mm52 in. The median place receives about 1,212 mm48 in in an average year.

In 8 places of 8, the coldest month has an average low below 0 °C (32 °F). In 0 places, the warmest month has an average high above 30 °C (86 °F). No place here gets less than 250 mm (10 in) of precipitation a year. None gets more than 2,000 mm (79 in) a year.

Averaged over all 8 places, July is the warmest month, with a mean of 23 °C74 °F. January is the coldest, with −2 °C28 °F. The wettest month on average is October (115 mm4.5 in). The driest is February (76 mm3.0 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 New York City, Brooklyn and Manhattan. 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.

Climate of each place in New York

New York City has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 12 °C54 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 26 °C79 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −1 °C29 °F. About 1,312 mm52 in of precipitation falls in a year. December is the wettest month and February the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are June and September.

Brooklyn has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 12 °C54 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 26 °C79 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −1 °C29 °F. About 1,312 mm52 in of precipitation falls in a year. December is the wettest month and February the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are June and September.

Manhattan has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa). Its year average is 11 °C52 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 29 °C85 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −6 °C21 °F. About 1,236 mm49 in of precipitation falls in a year. October is the wettest month and January the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are May and August and September.

Staten Island has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa). Its year average is 12 °C53 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 30 °C85 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −5 °C23 °F. About 1,226 mm48 in of precipitation falls in a year. June is the wettest month and February the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are May and September.

Buffalo has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa). Its year average is 9 °C49 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 27 °C81 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −7 °C20 °F. About 947 mm37 in of precipitation falls in a year. October is the wettest month and February the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are June–September.

Rochester has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa). Its year average is 9 °C49 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 28 °C83 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −7 °C19 °F. About 948 mm37 in of precipitation falls in a year. October is the wettest month and February the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are May–September.

Syracuse has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa). Its year average is 9 °C49 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 29 °C83 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −8 °C18 °F. About 1,110 mm44 in of precipitation falls in a year. October is the wettest month and February the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are May–September.

Albany has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa). Its year average is 10 °C49 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 29 °C83 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −9 °C16 °F. About 1,197 mm47 in of precipitation falls in a year. October is the wettest month and February the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are May and August and September.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the warmest place in New York?

By annual mean temperature, the warmest place in New York is New York City at 12 °C54 °F. The coolest is Buffalo at 9 °C49 °F.

Where does it rain the most in New York?

New York City gets the most precipitation, 1,312 mm52 in in an average year. The driest place is Buffalo with 947 mm37 in.

How many places in New York does this site cover?

World Climates has climate data for 8 places in New York. Each one has a page with monthly averages for temperature, rainfall, humidity and daylight.

When is the best time to visit New York?

It depends on the place. Across New York, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are May, June and September. Check the page of each city for its own best months.