New York

Climate in New York

New York's climate can vary in different areas, but it falls in the continental climate zone and experiences four distinct seasons. Summers tend to be mild and the southeast lowlands usually have the warmest temperatures, as well as the biggest breaks between frosts.

Across the state, winters are cold and snowy, and in the central and northern areas the lakes usually freeze over. More snow falls on the eastern side of Lake Ontario than anywhere east of the Rocky Mountains, and the Great Lakes Plain snow belt receives the most snow in the whole country.

The higher elevations of the Catskills and Adirondacks Mountain areas also experience significant snowfall and cooler summers. New York winters, in general, tend to be unpredictable, sometimes wild, sometimes severe and stormy.

Summers can get hot and humid, often lasting until September. In New York City, the high temperatures in mid-summer (July) average around 86ºF (28ºC), and in mid-winter (January) the temperatures average as low as 28ºF (-2ºC).