Climate of New York (state)
The climate of New York State is mostly humid continental (Dfa/Dfb in the Köppen climate classification) with cold winters and warm to hot and humid summers.
Average annual temperatures ranges from 40°F (4.4°C) in Old Forge in upstate New York to 57 °F (13.9 °C) in New York City at LaGuardia Airport.
New York City is an urban heat island, with temperatures 5-15 degrees Fahrenheit (3-8.4 degrees Celsius) warmer overnight than surrounding areas. In an effort to fight this warming, roofs of buildings are being painted white across the city in an effort to increase the reflection of solar energy, or albedo.[1] NYC has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa in the Köppen climate classification).
Precipitation vary from around 30 in (760 mm) in Plattsburgh to 60 in (1,500 mm) in the higher elevation of central New York. In the winter, New York has nor'easters which can bring blizzard conditions. Snowfall can range from 25 in (640 mm) around New York City to over 120 in (3,000 mm) in Watertown and Syracuse.
Temperature ranges
The hottest temperature ever in New York state was 108 °F (42 °C) in Troy which is in eastern New York on July 22, 1926. The coldest temperature was -52 °F (-46.6 °C) in Old Forge. Average low temperature in January can be under 10 °F (-12.2 °C) in the high elevations to around 28 °F (−2.2 °C) in New York City. In July the average high temperatures ranges from 77 °F (25.0 °C) in upstate New York to 88 °F (31.1 °C) in the southern portion of the state.
Average temperatures in selected cities
| Climate data for Buffalo (Buffalo Niagara International Airport), 1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1871–present[b] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22.2) |
71 (21.7) |
82 (27.8) |
94 (34.4) |
94 (34.4) |
97 (36.1) |
98 (36.7) |
99 (37.2) |
98 (36.7) |
92 (33.3) |
80 (26.7) |
74 (23.3) |
99 (37.2) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 32.1 (0.06) |
33.3 (0.72) |
41.8 (5.44) |
54.7 (12.61) |
67.4 (19.67) |
75.6 (24.22) |
80.2 (26.78) |
79.0 (26.11) |
72.3 (22.39) |
59.6 (15.33) |
47.8 (8.78) |
37.2 (2.89) |
56.8 (13.78) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 25.5 (-3.61) |
26.4 (-3.11) |
34.1 (1.17) |
45.6 (7.56) |
57.9 (14.39) |
66.9 (19.39) |
71.7 (22.06) |
70.4 (21.33) |
63.4 (17.44) |
51.7 (10.94) |
41.0 (5) |
31.4 (-0.33) |
48.8 (9.33) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 19.0 (-7.22) |
19.5 (-6.94) |
26.4 (-3.11) |
36.5 (2.5) |
48.3 (9.06) |
58.1 (14.5) |
63.1 (17.28) |
61.7 (16.5) |
54.5 (12.5) |
43.9 (6.61) |
34.2 (1.22) |
25.6 (-3.56) |
40.9 (4.94) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −16 (-26.7) |
−20 (-28.9) |
−7 (-21.7) |
5 (-15) |
25 (-3.9) |
35 (1.7) |
43 (6.1) |
38 (3.3) |
32 (0) |
20 (-6.7) |
2 (-16.7) |
−10 (-23.3) |
-20 (-28.9) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 3.35 (85.1) |
2.49 (63.2) |
2.89 (73.4) |
3.37 (85.6) |
3.37 (85.6) |
3.37 (85.6) |
3.23 (82) |
3.23 (82) |
4.10 (104.1) |
4.03 (102.4) |
3.50 (88.9) |
3.75 (95.3) |
40.68 (1,033.3) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | 26.7 (67.8) |
18.1 (46) |
14.1 (35.8) |
2.5 (6.4) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.9 (2.3) |
7.8 (19.8) |
25.3 (64.3) |
95.4 (242.3) |
| % Humidity | 76.0 | 75.9 | 73.3 | 67.8 | 67.2 | 68.6 | 68.1 | 72.1 | 74.0 | 72.9 | 75.8 | 77.6 | 72.44 |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 19.2 | 15.8 | 14.8 | 13.4 | 12.8 | 11.9 | 10.8 | 10.0 | 10.9 | 14.1 | 14.4 | 17.7 | 165.8 |
| Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 16.4 | 13.5 | 9.1 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 4.7 | 12.2 | 59.5 |
| Sunshine hours | 91.3 | 108.0 | 163.7 | 204.7 | 258.3 | 287.1 | 306.7 | 266.4 | 207.6 | 159.4 | 84.4 | 69.0 | 2,206.6 |
| Source #1: NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990)[2][3][4] | |||||||||||||
| Source #2: Weather Atlas [5] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Albany International Airport, New York (1991–2020 normals,[c] extremes 1874–present[d]) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71 (21.7) |
74 (23.3) |
89 (31.7) |
93 (33.9) |
97 (36.1) |
100 (37.8) |
104 (40) |
102 (38.9) |
100 (37.8) |
91 (32.8) |
82 (27.8) |
72 (22.2) |
104 (40) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 32.8 (0.44) |
36.0 (2.22) |
45.3 (7.39) |
59.2 (15.11) |
71.2 (21.78) |
79.4 (26.33) |
83.9 (28.83) |
82.0 (27.78) |
74.4 (23.56) |
61.6 (16.44) |
49.3 (9.61) |
38.2 (3.44) |
59.4 (15.22) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 24.4 (-4.22) |
26.8 (-2.89) |
35.7 (2.06) |
48.1 (8.94) |
59.6 (15.33) |
68.4 (20.22) |
73.1 (22.83) |
71.4 (21.89) |
63.5 (17.5) |
51.4 (10.78) |
40.5 (4.72) |
30.4 (-0.89) |
49.4 (9.67) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 15.9 (-8.94) |
17.6 (-8) |
26.1 (-3.28) |
36.9 (2.72) |
48.1 (8.94) |
57.4 (14.11) |
62.4 (16.89) |
60.7 (15.94) |
52.6 (11.44) |
41.1 (5.06) |
31.6 (-0.22) |
22.7 (-5.17) |
39.4 (4.11) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −28 (-33.3) |
−22 (-30) |
−21 (-29.4) |
9 (-12.8) |
26 (-3.3) |
35 (1.7) |
40 (4.4) |
34 (1.1) |
24 (-4.4) |
16 (-8.9) |
−11 (-23.9) |
−22 (-30) |
-28 (-33.3) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 2.60 (66) |
2.28 (57.9) |
3.09 (78.5) |
3.11 (79) |
3.41 (86.6) |
4.05 (102.9) |
4.55 (115.6) |
3.76 (95.5) |
3.73 (94.7) |
3.85 (97.8) |
2.99 (75.9) |
3.26 (82.8) |
40.68 (1,033.3) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | 15.6 (39.6) |
13.7 (34.8) |
12.0 (30.5) |
1.6 (4.1) |
0.1 (0.3) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.3 (0.8) |
2.6 (6.6) |
13.3 (33.8) |
59.2 (150.4) |
| % Humidity | 71.1 | 68.5 | 64.8 | 61.2 | 65.5 | 69.5 | 70.5 | 74.1 | 75.7 | 72.4 | 73.1 | 73.9 | 70.03 |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 12.7 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 12.2 | 12.7 | 12.2 | 11.4 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 11.2 | 11.1 | 12.6 | 139.2 |
| Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 10.1 | 7.8 | 5.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 7.0 | 34.5 |
| Sunshine hours | 141.1 | 158.5 | 200.3 | 218.9 | 248.9 | 262.2 | 289.2 | 253.2 | 210.5 | 168.8 | 100.7 | 108.3 | 2,360.6 |
| Source #1: NOAA (relative humidity, dew point, and sun 1961–1990)[6][7][8] | |||||||||||||
| Source #2: Weather Atlas[9] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for New York (Belvedere Castle, Central Park), 1991–2020 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 39.5 (4.17) |
42.2 (5.67) |
49.9 (9.94) |
61.8 (16.56) |
71.4 (21.89) |
79.7 (26.5) |
84.9 (29.39) |
83.3 (28.5) |
76.2 (24.56) |
64.5 (18.06) |
54.0 (12.22) |
44.3 (6.83) |
62.6 (17) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 33.7 (0.94) |
35.9 (2.17) |
42.8 (6) |
53.7 (12.06) |
63.2 (17.33) |
72.0 (22.22) |
77.5 (25.28) |
76.1 (24.5) |
69.2 (20.67) |
57.9 (14.39) |
48.0 (8.89) |
39.1 (3.94) |
55.8 (13.22) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 27.9 (-2.28) |
29.5 (-1.39) |
35.8 (2.11) |
45.5 (7.5) |
55.0 (12.78) |
64.4 (18) |
70.1 (21.17) |
68.9 (20.5) |
62.3 (16.83) |
51.4 (10.78) |
42.0 (5.56) |
33.8 (1) |
48.9 (9.39) |
| Source: NOAA[10] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for LaGuardia Airport, New York (1991–2020 normals,[e] extremes 1939–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22.2) |
79 (26.1) |
86 (30) |
94 (34.4) |
97 (36.1) |
101 (38.3) |
107 (41.7) |
104 (40) |
102 (38.9) |
95 (35) |
83 (28.3) |
75 (23.9) |
107 (41.7) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 40.2 (4.56) |
42.7 (5.94) |
49.9 (9.94) |
61.3 (16.28) |
71.8 (22.11) |
81.1 (27.28) |
86.4 (30.22) |
84.5 (29.17) |
77.2 (25.11) |
66.0 (18.89) |
55.0 (12.78) |
45.4 (7.44) |
63.5 (17.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 34.4 (1.33) |
36.3 (2.39) |
43.1 (6.17) |
53.6 (12) |
63.7 (17.61) |
73.4 (23) |
79.2 (26.22) |
77.7 (25.39) |
70.8 (21.56) |
59.6 (15.33) |
49.1 (9.5) |
40.0 (4.44) |
56.7 (13.72) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 28.6 (-1.89) |
29.9 (-1.17) |
36.2 (2.33) |
46.0 (7.78) |
55.7 (13.17) |
65.7 (18.72) |
71.9 (22.17) |
71.0 (21.67) |
64.4 (18) |
53.3 (11.83) |
43.2 (6.22) |
34.7 (1.5) |
50.1 (10.06) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −3 (-19.4) |
−7 (-21.7) |
7 (-13.9) |
22 (-5.6) |
36 (2.2) |
46 (7.8) |
56 (13.3) |
51 (10.6) |
42 (5.6) |
30 (-1.1) |
17 (-8.3) |
−2 (-18.9) |
-7 (-21.7) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 3.25 (82.6) |
2.93 (74.4) |
4.01 (101.9) |
3.85 (97.8) |
3.58 (90.9) |
4.03 (102.4) |
4.30 (109.2) |
4.41 (112) |
3.88 (98.6) |
3.81 (96.8) |
3.15 (80) |
4.08 (103.6) |
45.28 (1,150.1) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | 8.6 (21.8) |
9.8 (24.9) |
5.4 (13.7) |
0.4 (1) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.1 (0.3) |
0.3 (0.8) |
5.2 (13.2) |
29.8 (75.7) |
| % Humidity | 61.0 | 60.2 | 59.5 | 59.3 | 63.8 | 64.6 | 64.7 | 67.0 | 67.2 | 65.2 | 64.2 | 63.5 | 63.4 |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch) | 10.3 | 10.2 | 10.9 | 11.2 | 11.6 | 10.7 | 9.7 | 9.5 | 8.3 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 11.5 | 121.7 |
| Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 inch) | 4.4 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.7 | 13.8 |
| Source: NOAA (relative humidity 1961–1990)[11][12][13] | |||||||||||||
Climate Of New York (state) Media
Köppen climate types of New York, using 1991-2020 climate normals and using −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm to distinguish C and D climate zones.
Lake effect snow bands over Upstate New York
A high pressure system in Canada surges the air southward into the oncoming storm system, creating the potential for heavy wintry precipitation anywhere the cold and moist air masses meet, when it is sufficiently cold.
A rare late-season snowfall on May 9, 2010 in Ontario County, Rochester NY MSA
Snow in the same location 10 years later on May 9, 2020
The annual average precipitation for New York state
Mean annual snowfall (in inches) for Upstate New York, using 1991-2020 climate normals. Snowfall is especially prevalent within the lake-effect snowbelts of western and north central New York.
References
- ↑ National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center (2012). "Reducing the Urban Heat Island effect: bright is the new black as New York roofs go cool". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
- ↑ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ↑ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2021-05-04. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ↑ "WMO Climate Normals for Buffalo/Greater Buffalo, NY 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ↑ "Buffalo, New York, USA - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data". Weather Atlas. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ↑ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2021-05-04. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ↑ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ↑ "WMO Climate Normals for ALBANY/ALBANY COUNTY, NY 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ↑ d.o.o, Yu Media Group. "Albany, NY - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
- ↑ "Station Name: NY NEW YORK CNTRL PK TWR". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
- ↑ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ↑ "Station: New York LaGuardia AP, NY". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ↑ "NEW YORK/LAGUARDIA ARPT NY Climate Normals 1961−1990". NOAA. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
Notes
- ↑ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
- ↑ Official records for Buffalo kept January 1871 to June 1943 at downtown and at Buffalo Niagara Int'l since July 1943. For more information, see Threadex
- ↑ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
- ↑ Official records for Albany kept January 1874 to May 1938 at downtown and at Albany Int'l since June 1938. For more information, see Threadex
- ↑ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.