Climate of New York

The Climate of New York is generally humid continental, and features diverse weather.

General climate

See also: List of New York hurricanes

Humid subtropical climate zones of the world

Humid continental climate worldwide

Generally summers of New York have a humid continental climate (Koppen Dfa in some central and southern lowlands and the Hudson Valley, Dfb in the rest of the upstate).^[1] Weather in New York is heavily influenced by two continental air masses: a warm, humid one from the southwest and a cold, dry one from the northwest. A cool, humid airflow from the North Atlantic also has an effect on weather in the state, albeit to a lesser extent than the continental ones.^[1] Many continental frontal boundaries move across New York, with storm systems moving north along the coast, often affecting the southern areas of the state.^[1] In places like Huntington on Long Island, the climate is warmer than places up north, like Ticonderoga, where both the latitude and altitude are higher. In Huntington, the average high July temperature is 83 °F (28 °C),^[2] while in Ticonderoga, the average high in July is 81 °F (27 °C),^[3] which are very close, but in the summer the ocean will have a cooling effect on the air. The average high January temperatures, however, are much farther apart.

The winters are long and cold in the Plateau Divisions of the state. In the majority of winter seasons, a temperature of −13 °F (−25 °C) or lower can be expected in the northern highlands (Northern Plateau) and 5 °F (−15 °C) or colder in the southwestern and east-central highlands (Southern Plateau). The Adirondack region records from 35 to 45 days with below zero temperatures, in normal to severe winters.^{[citation needed]} Much of Upstate New York, particularly Western and Central New York, are typically affected by lake-effect snows. This usually results in high yearly snowfall totals in these regions. Winters are also long and cold in both Western and Central New York, though not as cold as the Adirondack region. The New York City metro area, in comparison to the rest of the state, is milder in the winter (especially in the city itself, which averages near or slightly above freezing). Thanks in part to geography, its proximity to the Atlantic and being shielded to the north and west by hillier terrain, the New York metro area usually sees far less snow than the rest of the state. Lake-effect snow rarely affects the New York metro area, except for its extreme northwestern suburbs. Winters also tend to be noticeably shorter there than the rest of the state.^{[citation needed]}

The summer climate is cool in the Adirondacks, Catskills and higher elevations of the Southern Plateau. The New York City area and lower portions of the Hudson Valley have hot summers by comparison, with some periods of high, uncomfortable humidity. The remainder of New York State enjoys pleasantly warm summers, marred by only occasional, brief intervals of sultry conditions. Summer daytime temperatures usually range from the upper 70s to mid 80s °F (25 to 30 °C), over much of the state.

New York ranks 46th among the 50 states in the amount of greenhouse gases generated per person. This efficiency is primarily due to the state's higher rate of mass transit use.^[4]

New York's highest recorded temp. is 108 °F (42 °C). This happened during the month of July. The coldest temperature recorded in New York took place in Old Forge on February 17 , 1979, with a temperature of −52 °F (−47 °C).

Charts

Albany
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.8   31 13     2.3   34 16     3.2   45 25     3.3   57 36     3.7   70 47     3.7   78 55     3.5   82 60     3.7   80 58     3.3   71 50     3.2   60 39     3.2   48 31     2.8   36 20 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: [1]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     71   -1 -11     58   1 -9     81   7 -4     83   14 2     93   21 8     95   26 13     89   28 16     93   27 14     84   22 10     82   16 4     82   9 -1     70   2 -7 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

Binghamton
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.6   28 15     2.5   31 17     3   41 25     3.5   53 35     3.6   66 46     3.8   73 54     3.5   78 59     3.4   76 57     3.6   68 50     3   57 40     3.3   44 31     3   33 21 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: [2]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     66   -2 -9     62   -1 -8     75   5 -4     89   12 2     90   19 8     97   23 12     89   26 15     85   24 14     91   20 10     77   14 4     84   7 -1     77   1 -6 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

Buffalo
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.2   31 18     2.4   33 19     3   42 26     3   54 36     3.4   66 48     3.8   75 57     3.1   80 62     3.9   78 60     3.8   70 53     3.2   59 43     3.9   47 34     3.9   36 24 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: [3]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     80   -1 -8     61   1 -7     76   6 -3     77   12 2     85   19 9     97   24 14     80   27 17     98   26 16     98   21 12     81   15 6     100   8 1     99   2 -4 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

Geneva
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.8   30 15     1.6   32 16     2.2   41 25     2.9   54 36     3   67 47     3.8   75 56     3.1   80 61     3.2   78 59     3.6   70 52     3   59 41     3   47 32     2.3   36 22 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: [4]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     45   -1 -9     41   0 -9     57   5 -4     73   12 2     77   19 8     95   24 13     79   27 16     82   26 15     91   21 11     77   15 5     75   8 0     57   2 -6 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

New York City
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     4.1   38 26     4.1   41 28     4.4   50 35     4.3   61 44     4.7   71 54     3.9   79 63     4.6   84 69     4.2   82 68     4.2   75 60     3.9   64 50     4.4   53 41     3.9   43 32 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: [5]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     104   3 -3     104   5 -2     112   10 2     109   16 7     119   22 12     99   26 17     117   29 21     107   28 20     107   24 16     99   18 10     112   12 5     99   6 0 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

Syracuse
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.6   31 14     2.1   34 16     3   43 24     3.4   56 35     3.4   68 46     3.7   77 55     4   82 60     3.6   80 59     4.2   71 51     3.2   60 40     3.8   47 32     3.1   36 21 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: [6]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     66   -1 -10     54   1 -9     77   6 -4     86   13 2     86   20 8     94   25 13     102   28 16     90   27 15     105   22 11     81   16 4     96   8 0     79   2 -6 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

Rochester
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.3   31 17     2.1   33 17     2.6   43 25     2.8   55 35     2.8   68 46     3.4   77 55     2.9   81 60     3.5   79 59     3.5   71 51     2.6   60 41     2.8   47 33     2.7   36 23 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: [7]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     59   -1 -8     53   1 -8     66   6 -4     70   13 2     72   20 8     86   25 13     74   27 16     90   26 15     88   22 11     66   16 5     72   8 1     69   2 -5 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

Watertown
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.5   28 9     2.5   30 11     2.9   40 22     3.1   53 35     3.3   66 47     3.4   75 56     3.3   79 61     4   78 60     4.6   69 51     3.9   57 39     5.5   45 30     3.8   33 17 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: [8]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     90   -2 -13     63   -1 -12     73   4 -6     78   12 2     85   19 8     86   24 13     84   26 16     100   26 16     117   21 11     98   14 4     140   7 -1     96   1 -8 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Climate of New York". New York State Climate Office - Cornell University. http://nysc.eas.cornell.edu/climate_of_ny.html. Retrieved April 10, 2008. 
2. ^ Average Weather for Huntington, NY - Temperature and Precipitation
3. ^ Average Weather for Ticonderoga, NY - Temperature and Precipitation
4. ^ The New York Post (2007-06-03). "A Breath of Fresh New York Air". http://www.nypost.com/seven/06032007/news/regionalnews/a_breath_of_fresh_n_y__air_regionalnews_.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-06.