How will the climate be like when you go to New York? Standard pre-journey questions. Understanding these answers will help set your suitcase and pack an umbrella or a coat, or a scarf, or, on the other hand, a more summer outfit.
You for sure saw something about New York in the winter when it is covered with snow in the movies, or you heard something about the heat waves affecting New York in the summer. This is what humid continental climate and a coastal location are alike. Severe cold in winter to torpor humidity in summer.
Weather in New York
New York has four seasons: summer, autumn, winter, and spring. Autumn is relatively mild, which is followed by winter that is generally cold and sometimes can be snowy, and it is around these times that the Christmas celebrations are usually held.
Winter Weather
Analyzing the weather condition for now it is very cold and appropriate dress code is some kind of warm clothing since it is below 0°C. However, you should remember that, in New York especially, they measure temperatures in Fahrenheit.
Summer Weather
On the other hand, summers are relatively warmer in New York for most of the days equally. This adds to the experience of heat likely coming from the high levels of humidity in the environment.
It is almost a tradition for heat waves to occur in the city every summer, so while going out during these periods, one has to be cautious to avoid heat stroke and abide by the precautions that are advised by the authorities.
Spring and Autumn Weather
Spring and autumn are considered as the best time to visit the city in a climatic sense as they are regarded as transitional seasons. It is moderately cold with possibilities of rains and the days are longer with comparatively colder nights than in winter.
What Time of the Year Is It Safe to Visit New York?
As far as the periods, high season in New York can be regarded as July-September. These months also approximate to the holiday season for many people in the northern hemisphere and hence New York is teeming with tourist traffic.
However, acceptable climate for traveling to New York for sightseeing is in the spring and early autumn since the weather is neither hot nor cold and the places attract fewer tourists.
Winter Season
It began in winter, and there is nothing good about it because it is a season of contention; it pleases some and scares many away. If we turn to the views of tourists, the main incentives seem to be low temperatures, snow, and the prices. Though, temperatures below 0 are not truly to the liking of the majority of people.
But wait, there is still more to fun, the cold season is also fun, and there are so many activities for the winter! But New York is not without any charm in winter or during Christmas and New Year celebrations at least.
Read below to determine what the climate is like in New York by season, so you know precisely what to anticipate for your consequent visit to the city.
Spring: March to June
All possible religious activities are performed in New York.
Spring starts to shed off the coolness of winter from mid-March and the month experiences an average temperature of 15°C; the temperature of the months of April, May, and June stands at 25°C.
Spring Weather
It is agreeably warm, although if you are traveling in April or May like I did, expect to experience an occasional downpour. Thus, it should be noted that in New York, precipitation is often observed at any time of the year.
Don’t forget to take some warm clothes for the night, and an umbrella in case. But some loose clothing if you are traveling in May or in early June.
Spring Activities
Spring in New York is a season that has a charming effect. Thus, watch the inside of the parks filled with vegetation and the blossoms starting in Central Park. It also has longer days, this means that one should seize the longer day to possibly organize for a walk or tours.
Airplane tickets and hotel accommodations are not expensive in the spring season if you are going to purchase them a few months before your scheduled travel; only during April, the prices tend to be higher because of the Easter holidays. If you prefer to avoid lots of other tourists going to the same places at the same time, do not go to these numbers.
Events in Spring:
- Easter Parade: That occurs on Easter Sunday along Fifth Avenue and is quite grand.
- Tribeca Independent Film Festival: This event pulls the attention of film lovers from all over the world due to its reputation.
- Cherry Blossom Viewing: A festival originating from Japan being held at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
When it is towards May and early June and the weather starts getting warm the festivals and the open-air cinema arrive. While you are a fan of baseball, you can follow the official opening of Mets Stadium or Yankee Stadium to the public.
Perhaps, Restaurant Week will be at the time you are going to New York, and you will be able to find different menus at quite stunning prices. It is conducted twice a year and the schedules vary from one year to another.
Summer: June to September
Roaring summer months are principally inclusive of late June, July, August, and early September. Relative temperature stands at 28°C but can climb as high as 40°C in intensified heat wave days.
Summer Weather
The climate becomes a little cooler at night in September, however, humidity and heat persist at night even in the summer time.
Despite this summer, New York is rather wet and there can be several rainy days per month. By average, July is considered to be the rainiest month of all the twelve months of the year. Rather, I would say it is the other way around not because of the many days it rains or it rains frequently but because of the days it rains heavily.
One should take an umbrella that can be folded as a walking stick when going for a walk around the city. It is also recommended to pack sunblock, water, and loose, lightweight garments as high humidity increases the perceptibility of heat.
Summer Activities
If you consider creating a packed schedule when you get to New York, then July and August are ideal. Ever since the good weather is here, there will be so many activities happening outside all over the city there is always something to do.
However, the city seems to be crowded with people and hence the streets are most of the time filled with people any time of the day and even till the early hours of the night. This is evident with the possibility of accommodation prices being the maximum of the year since it’s the holiday season.
Flights in summer are also expensive and if you do not book your tickets in advance, then be ready to pay a premium.
Summer Excursions
Summer days are those in which daylight hours are the longest, so you can get organized for many out-of-town trips. For instance, to spend the morning, going to the Coney Island beach when the weather is fine, is one idea.
And when September comes, you may notice that the script possibly indicates that the temperatures are now getting low, which are nighttime, less amount of humidity is present. By mid-September the trees begin to transform into some golden shades and thus, the transition in Central Park is rather picturesque.
Events in Summer:
- Museum Mile Festival: Happens to popularize art and culture, and here one is able to visit most of the museums and art galleries within the city without having to pay for it.
- Summer Cinemas: Commercial places of entertainment have been set up on the streets of the city and this has included the Open-air cinema.
- Open-air Operas and Jazz Concerts: This is held in several parks that can be found in the city in question.
- Gay Pride Festival: Special event that occurs at the last Sunday of June; an event characterized by music, colors, and floats, which is held along Fifth Avenue.
- Independence Day (July 4th): New Yorkers know how to party like true New Yorkers, now that is a fashion statement.
- Baseball Season: The season will have started and you might as well go over to catch a couple of games.
- Rockaway Beach: This cozy beach is located in Queens; if you fancy surfing or you want simple relaxation at the shore, this is a perfect place for that.
- 9/11 Memorials: September the 9th has several memorials for the 9/11 victims.
Autumn in New York: September to December
Fall arrives in mid-September. The trees lose their green color, transform into yellow and brown, days begin to get shorter and are not very hot as those in the summer season. According to preferences, many people think that autumn is the best time to visit New York.
Autumn Weather
September and October have relatively cool temperatures of about 23°C but nights are cool hence good for sleeping. Then, November starts to feel the approach of the winter season, with the maximum temperature of 15°C. The clothing you would most likely require during November would be a coat, a scarf, and gloves.
Dressing for Autumn
It is a transitional period and the temperature starts to decline gradually as the months progress to the colder months. Some travelers may require warm clothes and some may require formal wear depending on the month that they are traveling. When traveling early on in the fall, it is advised to dress in layers so the traveler can remove or put on clothing as the temperature necessitates.
In New York, proper, the rain is never scarce; however, New York experiences an average of 10 rainy days in November and December in particular. However, it is important to note that September and October are among the few months of the year that record very low instances of rainfall within the average span of one month; in detail, the average record of rainy days is eight in a month.
Concerning snow, it basically does not snow in New York in the fall though it is not exceptional to experience snowfall toward the end of November.
Tourist Influx
September and October might still experience a flow of tourists but it is not as frequent as the summer season. This is due to the fact that tickets for flying and bookings for lodging slash their prices especially when the weather is cold.
It should also be noted that accommodation is cheapest in the months of November and early December. However, be careful, New York City is gearing up for Christmas which is recognized as a mini-touristic peak period in the city.
Events in Autumn:
- Oktoberfest: Held in September to coincide with good weather as the subjects are outside most of the time.
- Halloween (October 31st): It’s always amusing when the individuals go all out to dress up in their outfits, similarly getting to go trick or treating much as a kid.
- New York City Marathon: Celebrated every first Sunday of November of the year.
- Thanksgiving Day: Held at the end of November accompanied by the traditional and sure parade.
If you belong to the category of individuals that start dreaming of Christmas the moment Halloween celebration is over, CONGRATULATIONS! The first week in December sees a tree up at the Rockefeller Centre and a ceremony that marks the switching on of the tree lights.
Winter: December to Early March
New York in mid-December requires little more than wishing to convey the fact that winter is fully established and present at the time of this writing. These are characterized by temperatures that begin to fall below 10°C, and in extreme cases go to negative temperatures at night. It is an observed phenomenon to witness such stretches of frozen layers on the roads which are unsafe for pedestrians as well as the traffic.
Winter Weather
On this page, you will be introduced to such concepts as snow blizzards and cutting winds, which are certainly not very favorable for walking. At times, it gets to as low as -20°C while in the months of January and February, it is not uncommon to get days where the temperature is about 5°C.
Wintering months bring snow to New York although it is situated on the seashore; this is due to the cold winds blowing from the interior of the country. This means that the occurrence of rain is reduced while that of snow is increased.
For the outerwear, it is necessary to have a coat, gloves, thermal wear, waterproof shoes, and a scarf. The beginning of March, that is the first half of the month, possesses a somewhat warmer temperature because of the approaching spring, though it is rather a rainy period.
Accommodation and Flight Prices
As from December, the days are short and the cold constricts everyone to their houses most of the time. All the streets get deserted during the New Year.
Usually, the prices on renting a car and on a flight also decrease. New York sees light traffic in January and February and this makes it costlier to travel to New York during these months. But it is better to be wary in the second half of December as people would wish to welcome the Christmas and the new year in the city hence pushing up the rates. It is like a mini-peak season because there is a marked increase in business throughout the premises.
Winter Activities
However, just as it is with every part of the world, winter in New York is extremely cold; however, this does not slow down the New Yorkers in any way, they have many events and especially during the Christmas seasons. Whenever there may be a question like when is good to travel to New York, the first thought may not be winter. But at the same time, the city is very lively.
I am almost sure that you have watched the famous ice-skating rinks in New York City in some movie or TV show. You can take yourself to the ice rink in Central Park to try hand on skates for real.
Christmas in New York
It is worth mentioning that you can only encounter Christmas markets in New York during the second half of December. Christmas lights are also normally seen massed in groups and there are likely to be people singing Christmas carols there.
But Christmas is the shopping festival and you will also be able to bag substantial discounts at all the standardized outlets.
So if you are visiting New York to ring in the New Year this New Year’s Eve, be sure to head out to Times Square on the 31st. That’s where fireplace parties, concerts, TV shows and, finally, the memorable New Year’s Eve are held! Advanced arrangements would be advisable since the place attracts thousands and thousands of people after 6 in the evening.
Post-New Year Activities
The new fashion season is ushered in most shops where there are discounts and sales to make way for the January products. Another popular secular festival is Groundhog Day which is held on the 2nd of February, during which the emergence of spring is forecasted according to the groundhog’s activity. A spectacle worth seeing.
Of course, there is Valentine’s Day and it is celebrated in the city in grand style whereby couples are offered special rates and the celebrations are well orchestrated. February is also the beginning of the Chinese New Year, Chinese people in New York City especially in Chinatown celebrate the event in a grand manner.
The first of March coincides with the approach of spring, St. Patrick’s Day Parade of March which is on Fifth Avenue with lots of greenness, music, and other events packed.
Conclusion: The Best Time to Travel to New York
There is always something to embrace about New York City in any season that is experienced. Any time of the year has its own attractions in New York; if you love the moderate weather in spring and autumn, if you are in for the crowd, sunshine and beach in summer or if you want the snow and the Christmas spirit in the winter.
Final Thoughts
The best times to travel to the parks when the weather is good and there are not very many tourists are spring and autumn, and the perfect time for those excited about outdoor activities irrespective of the heat is during summer. Although it is cold again, people want to enjoy the dear holiday and feel the uniqueness of winter in New York.
Knowing the climate and the main events, whether you have an interest to witness them or avoid them, will help you to pick the right time to go to New York and get the most out of your stay. However, whatever the time of your selection is, you will be able to feel the alive spirit of the city, as well as enjoy its never-ending facilities.