January in New York: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 5.2/10At 1°C (33°F) this is proper winter weather in January: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
97 mm of water-equivalent precipitation makes this a snowy month at resort level; what falls stays as snow, with about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.6 hours of daylight.
That is 5.2/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 8.7/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in New York — 3.5 points higher on the same scale.
February in New York — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.7/10At 1°C (34°F) this is proper winter weather in February: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
Budget for roughly 87 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.7 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 5.7/10 on the same scale — 10th of 12 months, versus 8.7/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in New York — 3 points higher on the same scale.
March in New York — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.2/10March averages 6°C (43°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Monthly rainfall reaches 133 mm — wet for this destination — but about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 6.2/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 8.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? June scores 2.5 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
April holds up well in New York — 3rd best month
Good · 7.5/10Expect 11°C (52°F) in April. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
117 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 7.5/10 on the same scale — 3rd of 12 months, versus 8.7/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
May in New York — reliably good (2nd best month)
Good · 8/10May averages 16°C (61°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Monthly rainfall reaches 116 mm — wet for this destination — but about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 8/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 8.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
June in New York tops the year's climate scores
Best window · 8.7/10At 22°C (72°F) this is comfortable city weather in June, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
Budget for roughly 80 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 27 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 15 hours of daylight to work around it.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for New York at 8.7/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect peak pricing, and crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
July in New York — middling scores, decent value
Trade-offs · 6/10At 25°C (78°F) this is comfortable city weather in July, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
141 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 29 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 6/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 8.7/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in New York — 2.7 points higher on the same scale.
August in New York: strong conditions, 6th of 12
Good · 7.2/10August averages 24°C (75°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Monthly rainfall reaches 117 mm — wet for this destination — but about 27 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 7.2/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 8.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
September in New York — reliably good (5th best month)
Good · 7.4/10September averages 20°C (68°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Monthly rainfall reaches 140 mm — wet for this destination — but about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 7.4/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
October in New York — reliably good (7th best month)
Good · 7.2/10Temperatures hover around 15°C (58°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
141 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 7.2/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 8.7/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
November holds up well in New York — 4th best month
Good · 7.5/10Expect 8°C (47°F) in November. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Budget for roughly 65 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.9 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 7.5/10 on the same scale — 4th of 12 months, versus 8.7/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
December in New York: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 5.2/10December averages 3°C (37°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 110 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 5.2/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 8.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? June scores 3.5 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
