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Best time to visit New York: month by month
Short answer
April to June and September to early November are the best times, with highs of about 16-26°C and fall colours in Central Park in late October and early November. July and August are hot and humid (29-30°C), December is festive but the most expensive month, and January-February are cold (5-6°C highs) and the cheapest.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5°C | -2°C | 11 | low |
| Feb | 6°C | -3°C | 11 | low |
| Mar | 11°C | 1°C | 10 | medium |
| Apr | 16°C | 7°C | 11 | high |
| May | 21°C | 11°C | 9 | high |
| Jun | 26°C | 17°C | 11 | high |
| Jul | 30°C | 21°C | 14 | high |
| Aug | 29°C | 20°C | 14 | high |
| Sep | 25°C | 17°C | 11 | high |
| Oct | 19°C | 11°C | 10 | very high |
| Nov | 12°C | 4°C | 8 | high |
| Dec | 9°C | 1°C | 11 | very high |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Highs rise from 11°C in March to 16°C in April and 21°C in May, with about 9-11 rainy days a month and cherry blossom in late April.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Warm to hot, highs of 26-30°C and lows of 17-21°C, humid, with thunderstorms and about 11-14 rainy days.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September (25°C) and October (19°C) are among the best months; November cools to 12°C, with fall colours early in the month.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cold, highs of 5-9°C and lows of -3 to 1°C, with snow possible; Christmas windows and the Rockefeller Center tree in December.
Events worth planning around
- New Year's Eve in Times Square, 31 December
- St Patrick's Day Parade on Fifth Avenue, 17 March
- NYC Marathon, first Sunday in November
- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the fourth Thursday of November
- Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks, 4 July
When to avoid
The weeks from Thanksgiving to New Year are the most crowded and expensive, and late July to August can be uncomfortably hot and humid.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit New York?
May, June, September or October, with highs of about 19-26°C.
When is New York cheapest?
January and February, when hotels are cheapest and it is cold.
When do the leaves change in Central Park?
Usually late October to early November.