Geography of New York City - Climate

Climate

Although it is not in the subtropics and its winters are cold, New York has a humid subtropical climate according to the Köppen climate classification because the coldest month's average temperatures are not low enough for persistent snow cover, at 32.7 °F (0.4 °C) at JFK and 33.0 °F (0.6 °C) in Central Park. The region's climate is vastly affected by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. New York City's climate patterns are affected by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, a 70-year-long warming and cooling cycle in the Atlantic that influences the frequency and severity of hurricanes and coastal storms.

• Winters are typically cold. Although the city is located in USDA Hardiness Zone 7, indicating the coldest temperature of the year is typically in the 0 to 10 °F (-18 to -12 °C) range, temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) only occur about several times per decade on average. New York winters sometimes feature snowstorms that can paralyze the city with over a foot of snow. However, variation in the climate also occasionally renders winter mild and almost snowless (such as in 1997–98).

• Springs are mild, averaging in the 50s °F (10 to 15 °C) in late March to the lower 80s °F (26-28 °C) in early June. The weather is unpredictable and can even bring relatively cool summers (such as in 1992) as an occasional surprise, and snowstorms arriving as late as the second week in April (significant snow after mid-March is fairly rare though). Thunderstorms are common in spring.

• Summers in New York are hot and humid, with temperatures exceeding 90 °F (32 °C) on an average 18 days per year, although high temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) are about as rare as subzero (F) lows in winter. Humidity levels are usually quite high in July and August. Thunderstorms are common in summer, and produce even the occasional tornado, although severe weather is more common west of the city in New Jersey because the city's proximity to the ocean usually greatly weakens severe thunderstorms before they hit the city. Hurricanes are considered to be a major threat to the area (and especially the Long Island suburbs). While infrequent, a direct hit could cause large loss of life and enormous property damage due to the high population in coastal areas, as proven by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.

• Autumns are comfortable in New York and similar to spring in temperature. However, the weather is notably unpredictable and travelers are advised to check forecasts and bring several layers of clothing in late fall and in the early spring months (e.g. November, March, April) as temperatures do fluctuate quickly at these times of year.

• Precipitation is plentiful and averages at 49.9 in (1,267 mm) annually, with spring being the wettest season and February the driest month. Snow averages at 26.7 in (67.8 cm).

• Temperature records have been set as high as 106 °F (41 °C) on July 9, 1936 (in Central Park; LaGuardia Airport recorded a 107 °F (42 °C) reading on July 3, 1966) and as low as −15 °F (−26 °C) on February 9, 1934. These temperatures are not common and have not been matched or surpassed in more than seven decades. Temperatures hit 104 °F (40 °C) as recently as July 2011 in Central Park and 103 °F (39 °C) in August 2006 at LaGuardia Airport; Central Park dropped to 1 °F (−17 °C) as recently as January 2004. New York can have excessive days of rain or long stretches of dry weather.