New York is about temperature, not rain
Precipitation is spread almost evenly through the year, from 81mm to 117mm a month, so the question in New York is how warm it is. Afternoons at Central Park run from 4°C in January to 29°C in July and August, according to NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
Spring and early autumn are the mild windows
From April to June afternoons climb from 17°C to 27°C, and May, at 22°C with 8.3 hours of sun a day, is the most comfortable month for walking the city. Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s cherry trees bloom through April and into early May. September (25°C) and October (18°C) are the autumn equivalents.
Winter: cold and snowy, with deals
January is the coldest month (4°C afternoons, -2°C nights) and February the snowiest, with 10.1 inches of snow at Central Park on average. NYC Restaurant Week and Broadway Week run from 19 January to 11 February in 2027. See New York in February and New York in March for the details.
Summer: the hottest weeks
July and August average 29°C afternoons and 21°C nights, and July is the wettest month (117mm). NYC Tourism + Conventions notes that Atlantic storms occasionally reach the city, mainly from August to early November; follow the National Weather Service in New York if one is forecast.
Your New York City cheat sheet
One email with the whole year in it — and the questions that actually change a trip there, answered.
- All 12 months scored 0–100
- The months to book, and the ones to skip
- The questions that change the plan, answered
- Plus the Travel Timing Calendar 2027: every destination, every month (PDF)
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Atlas Ranger Score · proprietary
When New York City scores best, month by month
Our transparent 0–100 score blends weather comfort, crowds, value and festivals into one number per month. How it's calculated →
- Best monthMay 75
- Best valueJuly 71 off-peak
- ToughestJanuary 24
See how New York City ranks against every destination on the Best Time to Travel leaderboard →
Explore the map
Every city, every month
Drag the month scrubber, hover any city, read the headline for that window.
Where to stay in United States
- Midtown Manhattan$$$First visits, Broadway, the big sights
Central for Times Square, the theatres, Central Park and the main subway lines; the busiest and priciest area.
Compare hotels in New York → - Lower Manhattan (Financial District)$$The harbour, ferries, 9/11 Memorial
Near the 9/11 Memorial, Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty ferries, with many subway lines.
Compare hotels in New York → - Downtown Brooklyn$$Lower rates, a short subway ride to Manhattan
Across the river from Lower Manhattan, close to the Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Compare hotels in New York →
Before you go
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Tours and tickets
Day trips, attraction tickets and guided tours in New York City.
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Frequently asked questions
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Sources
Every claim on this page is backed by an authoritative source. Atlas Ranger synthesizes data from multiple references so you can see exactly where each fact came from.
- NYC Tourism + Conventions: weather and climateUsed for: Seasons; Atlantic storms mainly from August to early November
- NYC Tourism + Conventions: NYC Restaurant WeekUsed for: Restaurant Week and Broadway Week, 19 January to 11 February 2027
- NOAA NCEI normals: Central Park, 1991-2020Used for: Monthly temperature, precipitation and snowfall averages
- NOAA sunshine, Central Park, 1961-1990Used for: Monthly sunshine hours, converted to hours a day
- National Weather Service New YorkUsed for: Forecasts and winter-storm and tropical-storm warnings
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden: cherry blossomsUsed for: Cherry trees bloom through April and early May, first flowers in late March
- NYC St. Patrick’s Day ParadeUsed for: Parade date and route, 17 March 2027
- Port Authority of NY & NJ: 2025 Airport Traffic ReportUsed for: JFK 15 miles and LaGuardia about 8 miles from Midtown by highway