About
In the movies you see New York covered in snow and people in big woollen jackets, but the thing you seem to forget is the fact that in the summer months, New York is HOT. The combination of its location with the thousands of tonnes of concrete buildings means that New York can actually play host to many temperature extremes- very hot and very cold.
The climate is, on the whole, classed as continental, which means it's home to four distinct seasons: summer; autumn; spring; and winter.
Summers generally are pretty warm to hot, but can get somewhat humid at times. Combine this with the urban warming affect that hits the city as the buildings absorb all the cityâs heat which results in the central part of New York being a few degrees warmer than outlying areas.
On average throughout summer the daily maximum reaches about 28 to 29 degrees, with July and August being the hottest months. Its not uncommon for the mercury to sit in the 30âs for several days throughout summer. So come prepared with plenty of water and you pretty summer dresses!
New York's location on the coast means that the weather is moderated by the prevailing sea breezes and its proximity to the ocean also means that winters are kept seemingly mild, comparative to other locations, which lie at the same longitude but are not coastal.
New York winters tend to be long and cold, with plenty of snowfall seen in the city each year. Temperatures tend to sit below freezing, so be prepared to wrap up warm if you're travelling to the area in the winter. The metro area of New York City tends to see milder weather in the winter, with temperatures usually staying above freezing level. This is due to the shelter provided by hillier ground and its proximity to the Atlantic. Western and Central New York experience long and cold winters in comparison.
See here for average conditions in winter.
New York City has been known to be hit with severe cold spells, the most recent occurring in the winter of 2006 when New York was buried underneath a record 27 inches of snow, a record which hadnât been broken since 1947! The freak storms and heavy snowfall meant that many flights were cancelled and numerous roads closed and resulting in chaos through much of the state of New York and various other parts of north eastern USA.
The ideal time to visit New York would probably be autumn or spring, as you avoid the extremes of summer and winter and you will also be visiting in off peak season so the city wont be quite as packed with tourists as it may be in summer or winter. In autumn you will see the tree lined streets bursting with oranges and browns as the trees begin t loose their leaves and the city begins to prepare for winter. On the flipside, in the spring time Central Park will be awash with colour as the sun begins to shine again and flowers start blooming. During this time daily temperatures sit in the 20âs so this can be very enjoyable weather in which to explore the many exciting sights and sounds of New York City.