Climate of New York City explained

See also: Climate of New York (state).

According to the Köppen climate classification, the climate of New York City is humid subtropical (Cfa), with parts of the city transitioning into a humid continental climate. (Dfa).[1] The city experiences moderately cold, somewhat wet and snowy winters; and hot, humid summers with plentiful rainfall all year round. As it is more geographically southern, it is usually warmer in winter than in Upstate New York. Also, New York's enormous population, human activity, and vast amounts of large buildings and streets, which absorb sunlight during the day, contribute significantly to the urban heat island effect. Were it not for this phenomenon, its climate would probably be within the humid continental temperature range.

Meteorological records have been kept at Central Park since 1821, although the station was relocated to a different part of the park on January 1, 1920.[2] There are also other weather stations in the area including one at LaGuardia Airport, beginning in 1940, and at JFK Airport, beginning in 1948. However, due to Central Park's long records and central location, it is often considered the main station for the city. Hence, all records unless otherwise stated will be for this station.

The highest temperature ever observed in Central Park is 106F on July 9, 1936 - although LaGuardia reported 107F on July 3, 1966, and the lowest is -15F on February 9, 1934. The lowest daily maximum is 2F on December 30, 1917. The highest daily minimum at Central Park is 87F on July 2, 1903.[3]

The city can be prone to extremes. Snowfall averages 29.81NaN1 per year but is highly variable between winter seasons.[4] The city can also be prone to strong winds, being a coastal location it is exposed to the Atlantic. This can be especially pronounced during the autumn and winter months, with a gust of being reported on December 2, 1974.[5] Governors Island, Manhattan, in New York Harbor, is planned to host a US$1 billion research and education center poised to make New York City the global leader in addressing the climate crisis.[6]

Classifications

New York City falls under different climate types depending on the climate classification system used. However, the Köppen climate classification system is the most widely used climate classification scheme, in which New York City falls under the humid subtropical zone.

In the Holdridge life zones system, having a mean annual biotemperature above 12°C and mean annual precipitation above 10001NaN1, New York City features a warm temperate moist forest climate.[7] By the Trewartha classification, the city is defined as having an oceanic climate (Do).[8] [9] Annually, the city averages 234 days with at least some sunshine.[10] The USDA plant hardiness zones are 7a and 7b. Most of the city is found in 7b, with forested areas and parks being in 7a, as shown in Staten Island and suburban areas. The city also has some small densely populated areas in 8a, like around Laguardia airport.[11]

Temperature

The city's regime of temperature features large seasonal swings, with four distinct seasons. However, due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, these swings are less significant than areas further inland. The Atlantic serves as a moderator of the temperature meaning the city is milder than areas inland during the winter and cooler during the summer. Although, being on the east coast, this effect is less pronounced. All extremes are for the Central Park station.

Averages

In an average year, the temperature will usually be between and with temperatures greatly exceeding these values being uncommon. Temperatures above and below are very rare, with the last occurrences being July 18, 2012 and February 14, 2016, respectively.[12]

Highest daily temperatures

PeriodRecord temperature[13] Date
72F data-sort-value="Jan 6, 2007"Jan 6, 2007
Jan 26, 1950
78FFeb 21, 2018
86F data-sort-value="Mar 31, 1998"Mar 31, 1998
Mar 29, 1945
96F data-sort-value="Apr 17, 2002"Apr 17, 2002
Apr 18, 1976
99FMay 19, 1962
101F data-sort-value="Jun 27, 1966"Jun 27, 1966
Jun 29, 1934
106F Jul 9, 1936
104F Aug 7, 1918
102F Sep 2, 1953
94F Oct 5, 1941
84F Nov 1, 1950
75F Dec 7, 1998

Lowest daily temperatures

PeriodRecord temperatureDate
NaNF Jan 24, 1882
NaNFFeb 9, 1934
3FMar 5, 1872
12FApr 1, 1923
32FMay 6, 1891
44F Jun 1, 1945
52F Jul 1, 1943
50F data-sort-value="Aug 29, 1986"Aug 29, 1986
Aug 29, 1982
Aug 31, 1976
Aug 29 - 30, 1965
Aug 27 - 28, 1885
39F Sep 30, 1912
28F Oct 27, 1936
5F Nov 30, 1875
NaNF Dec 30, 1917

Daily record warm minimum

PeriodRecord temperatureDate
59F Jan 4, 1950
58F Feb 24, 2017
66F Mar 31, 1998
76F Apr 18, 2002
76F May 31, 1987
81F Jun 26, 1952
87F Jul 2, 1903
84F Aug 14, 1908
79F Sep 7, 1881
75F data-sort-value="Oct 5, 1898"Oct 5, 1898
Oct 4, 1898
67F Nov 2, 1971
63F Dec 24, 2015

Daily record cold maxima

PeriodRecord temperatureDate
6F Jan 24, 1882
4F Feb 5, 1918
10F Mar 5, 1872
30F data-sort-value="Apr 7, 1982"Apr 7, 1982
Apr 5, 1881
43F data-sort-value="May 5, 1891"May 5, 1891
May 3, 1873
52F data-sort-value="Jun 2, 1946"Jun 2, 1946
Jun 4, 1945
Jun 2, 1907
61F Jul 6, 1956
59F data-sort-value="Aug 21, 2007"Aug 21, 2007
Aug 31, 1911
51F Sep 19, 1875
38F Oct 30, 1925
14F Nov 30, 1875
2F Dec 30, 1917

Highest averages

PeriodRecord meanYear
Year58F2023[14]
Spring (March–May)57.1F2010
Summer (June–August)77.8F2010
Autumn (September–November)61.8F1931, 2015
Winter (December–February) 41.5F2001–2002
January43.5F 2023
February42F2018
March51.1F1945
April57.9F2010
May68.7F1991
June76.2F 1943
July81.4F 1999
August80.3F 1980
September74.5F 2015
October 64.1F 2017
November 53F 2020
December 50.8F 2015

Lowest averages

PeriodRecord meanYear
Year 49.3F 1888
Spring (March–May) 44.7F 1888
Summer (June–August) 69.3F 1903
Autumn (September–November) 51.7F 1871
Winter (December–February) 25.7F1917–1918
January21.7F 1918
February19.9F1934
March30F1888
April41.1F1874
May54.3F1917
June64.2F 1903
July70.7F 1888
August68.5F 1927
September60.8F 1871
October 48.6F 1888
November 37F 1873
December 24.9F 1876

Precipitation

New York City sees frequent, heavy rainfall. Precipitation averages 49.90NaN0 annually. Spring is the wettest season. February is the driest month. Every single month in the city's recorded history has reported some rainfall, showing the variability of the climate. The record for days without rain, is 36 consecutive days, between October 10 and November 13, 1924.[15] The most rainfall in 24 hours was 8.28inches on September 23, 1882.

The city sees snow, primarily in winter. It sometimes snows in late autumn and early spring. Snowfall averages 29.81NaN1 per year but is highly variable between winter seasons.[16] The most snowfall was 27.3inches on January 23, 2016.[17]

Rainfall Extremes

Lowest

PeriodRecord rainfallYear
Year26.09inches1965
Spring (March–May)4.95inches1885
Summer (June–August)4.31inches1966
Autumn (September–November)4inches1908
Winter (December–February) 4.22inches1901–1902
January 0.58inches1981
February0.46inches1895
March 0.8inches2006
April 0.95inches1891
May 0.3inches1903
June 0.02inches1949 [18]
July 0.44inches1999
August 0.18inches1995
September 0.21inches1884
October 0.14inches1963
November 0.34inches1976
December0.25inches1955

Highest

PeriodRecord rainfallYear
Year80.56inches1983
Spring (March–May)29.15inches1983
Summer (June–August)25.53inches2011
Autumn (September–November)22.31inches1913
Winter (December–February) 20.71inches1978–1979
January 10.52inches1979
February6.87inches1869
March 10.69inches2010
April 14.01inches1983
May 10.24inches1989
June 10.26inches2003
July 11.89inches1889
August 18.95inches2011
September 16.85inches1882
October 16.73inches2005
November 12.41inches1972
December9.98inches1973

Snowfall

Highest

PeriodRecord most snowfallYear
Year64inches1896
Seasonal (July–June)75.6inches1995–1996
Spring (March–May)33.5inches1896
Autumn (September–November)19inches1898
Winter (December–February) 60.9inches2010–2011
January 36inches2011
February36.9inches2010
March 30.5inches1896
April 13.5inches1875
May Trace2020, 1977, 1956, 1946
June–September 0inches
October 2.9inches2011
November 19inches1898
December30.2inches1947

Lowest

PeriodRecord least snowfallYear
Year2.3inches2023
Seasonal (July–June)2.3inches2022–2023
Winter (December–February) 0.5inches1997–1998
January 0inches1890
February0inches1998
March 0inches2012, 1903, 1894, 1878
April–November0inchesmany
December0inches2011, 2006, 1891, 1882, 1877, 1870

Other phenomena

Sunshine, UV and daylight

The city generally experiences sunny conditions. As a result of New York City's latitude, 40.7127°N -74.006°W, it is not subject to the extremes of daylight that places much farther north see.[19] However, it is far north enough for there to be a moderate change of possible daylight hours throughout the year.[20]

Wind

The wind is seldom strong in New York City but can occasionally be noticeable. This is especially true in the autumn and winter seasons when extratropical depressions often bring strong winds. The strongest gust in Central Park, of, occurred on December 2, 1974, however, a station at The Battery reported a gust of on October 14, 1954.[21] However, tropical storms can sometimes affect the area, although they are infrequent and usually weak. Most recently Hurricane Sandy struck the city on October 29, 2012, causing billions of dollars in damage. It resulted in loss of power, severe flooding and many residents being displaced.[22]

Climate change

See main article: Climate change in New York City. Being a coastal city, New York City is expected to experience significant effects from rising sea levels. Predictions that the sea level will rise by as much as by 2100 have prompted the city's mayor to invest $10 billion into keeping the city safe.[23] The city is also expected to become more susceptible to storm surges and flooding, meaning events like Hurricane Sandy's impacts will become more likely in the future.

Temperature

The temperature in New York City has generally increased steadily of the last 150 years and this trend is expected to continue due to anthropogenic warming. By 2080, it is predicted that the climate of the city will be similar to northern Arkansas. The mean temperature has risen by since the 1970s and this warming is expected to accelerate in the coming decades.[24] [25]

Precipitation

Precipitation in the city has significantly increased since 2000; both rainfall and snowfall have risen, but snowfall has increased much more significantly. However, it is argued that such trends, being so recent, make it impossible to predict whether such increases will continue or become steadier.[26]

Station data

Time series plot for Central Park, 1869 - present

Notes and References

  1. Web site: World Map of Köppen-Geiger climate classification. Peel. M.C.. Finlayson. B.L.. The University of Melbourne . https://web.archive.org/web/20150113015116/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Koppen_World_Map_%28retouched_version%29.png. January 13, 2015. dead. 27 June 2020.
  2. Web site: Station Data Inventory, Access & History. NOAA. 27 June 2020.
  3. Web site: Warmest and Coldest Days at Central Park (1869 to Present). NOAA. 27 June 2020.
  4. Web site: Record Wet and Dry Years and Months at CPK. NWS Upton, New York. 2020-07-05.
  5. Web site: All-Time Extremes Central Park, NY (1869 to Present). NOAA. 14 June 2021.
  6. Web site: Mayor Adams, Trust For Governors Island Unveil Finalist Proposals For Climate Solutions Center. City of New York. October 26, 2022. October 29, 2022.
  7. The Holdridge life zones of the conterminous United States in relation to ecosystem mapping . 1999 . 10.1046/J.1365-2699.1999.00329.X . 11733879 . Figure 3. Lugo . A. E. . Brown . S. L. . Dodson . R. . Smith . T. S. . Shugart . H. H. . Journal of Biogeography . 26 . 5 . 1025–1038 .
  8. Web site: Trewartha maps . January 30, 2019 . kkh.ltrr.arizona.edu . .
  9. Web site: Chapter 47. Global mapping . January 30, 2019 . fao.org . .
  10. Web site: [ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP2/00305801.TXT New York Central Park, NY Climate Normals 1961−1990]. . July 18, 2020.
  11. Web site: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 1 . 2023-04-12 . planthardiness.ars.usda.gov . en-us.
  12. Web site: Days below 0°F in New York City . 24 June 2021 . 26 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220326153735/http://weather2000.com/NY_Cold.html . dead .
  13. Web site: Central Park, NY Historical Data. NOAA. 27 June 2020.
  14. https://donsutherland.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2024/01/01/2023-becomes-new-york-citys-warmest-year-on-record/ 2023 Becomes New York City’s Warmest Year on Record
  15. Web site: Record Wet and Dry Years and Months at CPK. NWS Upton, New York. 2020-07-05.
  16. Web site: Record Wet and Dry Years and Months at CPK. NWS Upton, New York. 2020-07-05.
  17. Web site: Monthly & Seasonal Snowfall at Central Park. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2020-07-05.
  18. Web site: New York City Weather in 1949 .
  19. Web site: GPS coordinates, latitude and longitude with interactive Maps. www.gps-coordinates.net.
  20. Web site: New York, New York, USA - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data . Weather Atlas . 4 July 2019.
  21. Web site: All-Time Extremes Central Park, NY (1869 to Present) . National Weather Service. 25 June 2021.
  22. Web site: Impact of Hurricane Sandy . 1.nyc.gov . 25 June 2021 . 25 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210625065159/https://www1.nyc.gov/site/cdbgdr/about/About%20Hurricane%20Sandy.page#:~:text=Impact%20of%20Hurricane%20Sandy&text=The%20storm%20resulted%20in%20the,New%20Yorkers%20were%20temporarily%20displaced. . dead .
  23. Web site: NYC mayor has a $10 billion plan to protect Manhattan from rising seas . 14 March 2019 . The Verge. 25 June 2021.
  24. Web site: By 2080, global warming will make New York City feel like Arkansas. USA Today. 25 June 2021.
  25. Web site: Impacts of Climate Change in New York. USA Today. 25 June 2021.
  26. Web site: Why New York City's Rapidly Rising Snowfall Totals Are No Holiday Miracle. 29 December 2017. New York Yimby. 25 June 2021.