New York City (NY) Temperature by Month

New York City in New York State, United States of America sees significant seasonal temperature differences, with daytime highs between 4°C (39°F) in January and 30°C (86°F) in July, averaging 17°C (63°F) annually. Explore the full monthly breakdown below.

The weather in New York City experiences significant differences between warm and cold seasons, with big shifts in temperature. At night, minimum temperatures range from 22°C (72°F) in July to -3°C (27°F) in January.

The chart below illustrates the average maximum day and minimum night temperatures in New York City by month:

The coolest part of the day is typically between 4 AM and 6 AM, while 3 PM is usually the warmest, when solar heating is at its peak. July, the city's warmest month, averages 271 hours of sunshine.

The chart below shows the average temperature throughout the year:

New York City's average annual maximum temperature is 17°C (63°F). To put that in context, here's how it compares to a few well-known destinations:

Athens, Greece sits at 23°C (73°F) on average, with hot dry summers and mild winters characteristic of the Mediterranean.

Interlaken, Switzerland averages 8°C (46°F) a year, with cold winters and cool summers thanks to its Alpine setting.

Shanghai, China averages 21°C (70°F) a year, with warm summers, mild winters, and a noticeable spring and autumn.

Brisbane, Australia averages 26°C (79°F) a year, with warm winters and hot, humid summers.

Temperature alone doesn't tell the whole story, humidity plays a big role in how warm or cold it actually feels. High humidity in summer makes the heat feel more intense, particularly once temperatures climb above 25°C. In winter, the same humidity can make cold air feel sharper than the thermometer suggests.

In the cooler months, when temperatures drop below 10°C, high humidity makes the cold feel more cutting than it would in dry conditions.

In New York City, January is the coolest month, with average highs of 4°C (39°F) and humidity around 61%, considered high. In July, the warmest month, temperatures average 30°C (86°F) with 64% humidity, conditions that feel high. For a full picture, see our humidity page.

Climate temperature data is typically calculated as a 30-year average. This smooths out year-to-year variability and gives a more reliable picture of what a place is actually like, rather than what happened in any single unusual year.

The readings come from a range of sources, land-based weather stations, ocean buoys, ships, and satellites. That data is collected by weather services around the world, then pooled, quality-checked, and averaged to produce the climate records you see here.

Whether a city sits on the coast or deep inland makes a significant difference to its climate. Coastal areas tend to have more stable temperatures year-round, large bodies of water absorb heat slowly in summer and release it gradually in winter, keeping extremes in check. Cities far from the sea don't benefit from that buffer, which is why continental climates tend to have hotter summers and colder winters than their coastal counterparts at the same latitude.

For more on New York City's weather, including monthly rainfall, sunshine hours, and humidity, visit our New York City climate page.