Destination guide
New York weather by month
June to August is the best time to visit New York if warmth matters most, with daytime averages rising from 26°C to 28°C. The catch is that summer is not a dry season, so keep outdoor plans flexible. September offers a gentler balance at 24°C, while May also suits travellers who prefer walking without peak summer heat. Winter calls for a different approach: warm clothing, shorter outdoor spells and plans that work in the cold.
- Hottest month
- 28.5°CJuly
- Coolest month
- 3.2°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 23.1°CAugust
- Flight from London
- 7 h 42 minLong-haul (7 h+) · estimated
New York, month by month
A little perspective
New York through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.2°C | -4.6°C | 4.9°C | 4.0 | 82 | 9 | 0% |
| February | 4.5°C | -4.3°C | 3.5°C | 4.6 | 78 | 9 | 0% |
| March | 8.8°C | -0.4°C | 4.4°C | 4.9 | 107 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 15.1°C | 5.4°C | 7.8°C | 5.2 | 92 | 11 | 3% |
| May | 20.5°C | 11.1°C | 12.9°C | 5.5 | 86 | 11 | 20% |
| Junebest | 25.5°C | 16.6°C | 18.4°C | 6.1 | 101 | 11 | 57% |
| Julybest | 28.5°C | 19.9°C | 22.3°C | 6.7 | 104 | 11 | 86% |
| Augustbest | 27.5°C | 19.3°C | 23.1°C | 6.4 | 104 | 11 | 79% |
| September | 23.7°C | 15.8°C | 21.2°C | 5.9 | 98 | 9 | 37% |
| October | 17.4°C | 9.5°C | 16.9°C | 5.3 | 98 | 9 | 5% |
| November | 11.3°C | 3.6°C | 11.8°C | 4.4 | 77 | 8 | 0% |
| December | 6.0°C | -1.2°C | 8.0°C | 3.7 | 101 | 10 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
When to go to New York
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: June, July, August. March is the wettest month (107 mm, about 10 rainy days) and November the driest (77 mm). The sea is warmest in August at 23.1°C and coolest in February at 3.5°C.
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to LaGuardia Airport (LGA, 13 km from New York City) takes roughly 7 h 42 min - long-haul (7 h+) by UK standards. Time-zone: America/New York.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in New York between 1991 and 2020 reached 38.5°C on 22 July 2011; the coldest fell to -24.0°C on 5 February 1996. In July one day in ten tops 32.9°C and about 32% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to -12.3°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was October 2005 with 317 mm, against a October average of 98 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in New York
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:18 | 16:52 | 9.6 h | 4.0 h |
| February | 06:51 | 17:29 | 10.6 h | 4.6 h |
| March | 07:08 | 19:02 | 11.9 h | 4.9 h |
| April | 06:17 | 19:35 | 13.3 h | 5.2 h |
| May | 05:39 | 20:06 | 14.5 h | 5.5 h |
| June | 05:24 | 20:29 | 15.1 h | 6.1 h |
| July | 05:38 | 20:26 | 14.8 h | 6.7 h |
| August | 06:06 | 19:55 | 13.8 h | 6.4 h |
| September | 06:37 | 19:06 | 12.5 h | 5.9 h |
| October | 07:07 | 18:16 | 11.2 h | 5.3 h |
| November | 06:43 | 16:38 | 9.9 h | 4.4 h |
| December | 07:13 | 16:29 | 9.3 h | 3.7 h |
Winter: December to February needs proper cold-weather clothing
Winter suits travellers happy to organise their days around cold weather rather than long stretches outdoors. December averages 6°C by day and -1°C at night, so a mild-looking afternoon does not remove the need for a warm coat. January is the coldest month, with days around 3°C and nights at -5°C; February offers only a small improvement at 4°C and -4°C. Pack insulating layers, gloves and footwear that can handle wet conditions. With just 4 hours of sunshine in December and January, do not count on sunny weather to soften the cold. Keep evening walks flexible and allow for indoor breaks.
Spring and autumn: choose the month carefully
Spring and autumn are not interchangeable in New York. March remains chilly at 9°C by day, with nights around 0°C, so keep winter layers in your bag. April reaches 15°C, but evenings at 5°C still need a substantial jacket. May is the easier spring choice for time outdoors, averaging 20°C by day and 11°C at night, although its 11 rain days make waterproofs useful. September is warmer, at 24°C by day and 16°C overnight, and suits travellers who find midsummer too hot for extended walking. October drops to 17°C, making layers more useful again. By November, daytime averages of 11°C and nights at 4°C call for warmer clothing. It is the driest month, but that does not make it reliably dry.
Summer: reliable warmth, but keep a rain plan
June brings a clear shift towards warm-weather travel, with daytime averages of 26°C and nights at 17°C. July and August both average 28°C by day, so lighter clothing and breaks from walking around midday make sense. July nights average 20°C, while August nights sit at 19°C: evenings are much less demanding than in winter. July also has the most sunshine, averaging 7 hours daily, but summer still brings regular wet days. June and July each average 11 rain days, with 10 in August. Carry a light waterproof and leave room to rearrange outdoor plans rather than treating summer warmth as a guarantee of dry weather.
A little more detail
New York weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit New York?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in New York are August, July and June. July is the hottest month (average high 28.5°C) and January the coolest (3.2°C).
How many months a year is New York over 25°C?
3 months in New York average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 5 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in New York?
March is the wettest month in New York (107 mm on average) and November the driest (77 mm). Annual rainfall averages 1128 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in New York?
The hottest day recorded in New York between 1991 and 2020 reached 38.5°C on 22 July 2011; the coldest fell to -24.0°C on 5 February 1996. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
When is the sea warmest around New York?
August has the warmest sea average at 23°C, followed by July at 22°C. September remains relatively warm at 21°C. June's 18°C water is cooler despite warm air temperatures, so later summer is the better choice if swimming matters to you.
Is there a dry season in New York?
There is no clear dry season in the monthly pattern: rain days range from 8 to 11 throughout the year. November is the driest month, but you should still pack a waterproof and keep some flexibility in outdoor plans.
When can I expect mild evenings?
June to September offers the mildest evenings, with average night temperatures from 16°C to 20°C. May and October are cooler at 11°C and 10°C, so bring a jacket if you plan to stay outdoors after daytime warmth fades.
See also: United States weather by month · where else is hot in July
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at New York City. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 4.6 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C