According to the Köppen climate classification, New York City features a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). The city experiences long, hot, humid summers with frequent late day thundershowers, and moderately cold winters, with snow or a mix of snow and rain on occasion. New York's location in the southernmost part of the state, its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, and its large population (and, consequentially, a strong urban heat island effect) all shape its climate. Thus, New York City has a marginal humid subtropical climate, in contrast to the rest of the state, which features a humid continental climate; and the New York metropolitan area's coastline constitutes one of the fastest-warming urban ocean shorelines in the world.

Meteorological records have been kept at Central Park since 1821, although the station was relocated to a different part of the park on January 1, 1920. There are also other weather stations in the area, including one at LaGuardia Airport, beginning in 1940, and at JFK Airport, beginning in 1948. However, due to Central Park's long records and central location, it is often considered the main station for the city. Hence, all records unless otherwise stated will be for this station.

The highest temperature ever observed in Central Park is on July 9, 1936 - although LaGuardia reported on July 3, 1966, and the lowest is on February 9, 1934. The lowest daily maximum is on December 30, 1917. The highest daily minimum at Central Park is on July 2, 1903.

The averages of precipitation annually, with snowfall averaging per year but is highly variable between winter seasons. The city can also be prone to strong winds, being a coastal location it is exposed to the Atlantic. Hurricane Hazel in 1954 produced a wind gust of , while a gust of being reported on December 2, 1974. Governors Island, Manhattan, in New York Harbor, is planned to host a US$1 billion research and education center poised to make New York City the global leader in addressing the climate crisis.

Classifications

New York City falls under different climate types depending on the climate classification system used. However, the Köppen climate classification system is the most widely used climate classification scheme, in which New York City falls under the humid subtropical zone.

In the Holdridge life zones system, having a mean annual biotemperature above and mean annual precipitation above , New York City features a warm temperate moist forest climate. By the Trewartha classification, the city is defined as having a Temperate climate (Dc). Annually, the city averages 234 days with at least some sunshine. The USDA plant hardiness zones are 7a and 7b. Most of the city is found in 7b, with forested areas and parks being in 7a, as shown in Staten Island and suburban areas. The city also has some small densely populated areas in 8a, like around LaGuardia airport.

Temperature The city's annual temperature profile consists of a warm to hot season from May through October, and a cool to cold period from November through April. However, due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, these swings are less significant than areas further inland. The Atlantic serves as a moderator of the temperature meaning the city is milder than areas inland during the winter and cooler during the summer. All extremes are for the Central Park station.

Averages In an average year, the temperature will usually be between and with temperatures greatly exceeding these values being uncommon. Temperatures at or above and below are very rare, with the latest occurrences being July 2, 2026 and February 14, 2016, respectively.

Highest daily temperatures

PeriodRecord temperature Date Jan 6, 2007Jan 26, 1950 Feb 21, 2018 Mar 31, 1998Mar 29, 1945 Apr 17, 2002Apr 18, 1976 May 19, 1962 Jun 27, 1966Jun 29, 1934 Jul 9, 1936 Aug 7, 1918 Sep 2, 1953 Oct 5, 1941 Nov 1, 1950 Dec 7, 1998

Lowest daily temperatures PeriodRecord temperatureDate Jan 24, 1882 Feb 9, 1934 Mar 5, 1872 Apr 1, 1923 May 6, 1891 Jun 1, 1945 Jul 1, 1943 Aug 29, 1986Aug 29, 1982Aug 31, 1976Aug 29–30, 1965Aug 27–28, 1885 Sep 30, 1912 Oct 27, 1936 Nov 30, 1875 Dec 30, 1917

Daily record warm minimum

PeriodRecord temperatureDate Jan 4, 1950 Feb 24, 2017 Mar 31, 1998 Apr 18, 2002 May 31, 1987 Jun 25, 2025Jun 24, 2025Jun 26, 1952 Jul 22, 2011Jul 15, 1995Jul 7, 1908 Aug 14, 1908 Sep 7, 1881 Oct 5, 1898Oct 4, 1898 Nov 2, 1971 Dec 24, 2015

Daily record cold maxima

PeriodRecord temperatureDate Jan 24, 1882 Feb 5, 1918 Mar 5, 1872 Apr 7, 1982Apr 5, 1881 May 5, 1891May 3, 1873 Jun 2, 1946Jun 4, 1945Jun 2, 1907 Jul 6, 1956 Aug 21, 2007Aug 31, 1911 Sep 19, 1875 Oct 30, 1925 Nov 30, 1875 Dec 30, 1917

Highest averages

PeriodRecord meanYearYear 20232023 Becomes New York City’s Warmest Year on Record Spring (March–May) 2010 Summer (June–August) 2010 Autumn (September–November) 1931, 2015 Winter (December–February) 2001–2002 January 2023 February 2018 March 1945 April 2010 May 1991 June 1943 July 1999 August 1980 September 2015 October 2017 November 2020 December 2015

Lowest averages PeriodRecord meanYearYear 1888 Spring (March–May) 1888 Summer (June–August) 1903 Autumn (September–November) 1871 Winter (December–February) 1917–1918 January 1918 February 1934 March 1888 April 1874 May 1917 June 1903 July 1888 August 1927 September 1871 October 1888 November 1873 December 1876

Precipitation

New York City averages annually. Spring is the wettest season and February is the driest month. Every single month in the city's recorded history has reported some rainfall, showing the variability of the climate. On occasion, tropical systems can drop heavy rainfall. The record for days without rain, is 36 consecutive days, between October 10 and November 13, 1924. The most rainfall in 24 hours was on September 23, 1882.

Annually, most snow in New York City occurs from December through late March. Snowfall averages per year but is highly variable between winter seasons. The most snowfall was on January 23, 2016.

Averages

Rainfall Extremes

Lowest PeriodRecord rainfallYearYear 1965 Spring (March–May) 1885 Summer (June–August) 1966 Autumn (September–November) 1908 Winter (December–February) 1901–1902 January 1981 February 1895 March 2006 April 1891 May 1903 June 1949 July 1999 August 1995 September 1884 October 2024 November 1976 December 1955

Highest PeriodRecord rainfallYearYear 1983 Spring (March–May) 1983 Summer (June–August) 2011 Autumn (September–November) 1913 Winter (December–February) 1978–1979 January 1979 February 1869 March 2010 April 1983 May 1989 June 2003 July 1889 August 2011 September 1882 October 2005 November 1972 December 1973

Snowfall

Lowest PeriodRecord least snowfallYearYear 2023 Seasonal (July–June) 2022–2023 Winter (December–February) 1997–1998 January 1890 February 1998 March 2025, 2012, 1903, 1894, 1878 April–November many December 2011, 2006, 1891, 1882, 1877, 1870

Highest PeriodRecord most snowfallYearYear 1896 Seasonal (July–June) 1995–1996 Spring (March–May) 1896 Autumn (September–November) 1898 Winter (December–February) 2010–2011 January 2011 February 2010 March 1896 April 1875 May Trace 2020, 1977, 1956, 1946 June–September – October 2011 November 1898 December 1947

Other phenomena Sunshine, UV and daylight The city generally experiences sunny conditions. As a result of New York City's latitude, , it is not subject to the extremes of daylight that places much farther north see. However, it is far north enough for there to be a moderate change of possible daylight hours throughout the year.

Wind New York City can occasionally experience strong winds, like many coastal locations. Tropical cyclones or intense oceanic storms bring the strongest winds. The strongest gust in Central Park, of , occurred on December 2, 1974, however, a station at The Battery reported a gust of on October 14, 1954, during Hurricane Hazel. Most recently Hurricane Sandy, with struck the city on October 29, 2012, causing billions of dollars in damage. It resulted in loss of power, severe flooding and many residents being displaced.

Climate change

Being a coastal city, New York City is expected to experience significant effects from rising sea levels. Predictions that the sea level will rise by as much as by 2100 prompted then-mayor Bill deBlasio to invest $10 billion into infrastructure in 2019. The city is also expected to become more susceptible to storm surges and flooding, meaning events like Hurricane Sandy's impacts will become more likely in the future.

Temperature The temperature in New York City has generally increased steadily over the last 150 years and this trend is expected to continue due to anthropogenic warming. By 2080, it is predicted that the climate of the city will be similar to coastal South Carolina. The mean temperature has risen by since the 1970s and this warming is expected to accelerate in the coming decades.

Precipitation Precipitation in the city has significantly increased since 2000; both rainfall and snowfall have risen, but snowfall has increased much more significantly. However, it is argued that such trends, being so recent, make it impossible to predict whether such increases will continue or become steadier.

Station data

Time series plot for Central Park, 1869–present

Notes

References