New York City Weather Facts and Records

Presented here are official weather records and facts for New York City, New York. Most of the data was compiled in Central Park and dates back to 1869.

Included are the record hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in New York City as well as annual average temperatures, record rain and snowfall totals plus averages, annual sunshine levels and the highest wind gusts ever recorded in New York City.

Data is from the National Weather Service.

In general New York City has hot summers and cold winters and receives its share of yearly rain and snow. As anyone who has ever walked around down in the canyons of Wall Street knows it can also get pretty windy in the city at times. However compared to all the other cities in New York State the city of New York has the best weather.

All the upstate cities have higher annual average rain and snow totals and colder temperatures all around. The upstate cities also receive far less annual sunshine than New York City does.

The weather for all the upstate cities is heavily influenced by weather patterns flowing over the Great Lakes. As weather systems pass over large bodies of water they pick up moisture which means rain, snow and clouds. Many upstate New York cities are among the snowiest, rainiest and most cloudy cities in the United States.

The weather for New York City is not heavily influenced by the Great Lakes and hence New York City is not close to making any of the top lists of cities in the United States for rain, snow or cloud cover.

Average and Record Temperatures in New York City

The annual average temperature in NYC is 54.6 degrees

The annual average high temperature in NYC is 61.7 degrees

The annual average low temperature in NYC is 47.5 degrees

Record Hottest Temperatures in NYC

The hottest temperature ever recorded in NYC is 106 degrees which occurred on July 9, 1936

The hottest years in NYC history are 1998, 1991 and 1990 with annual average temperatures of 57.2 degrees

Record Coldest Temperatures in NYC

The coldest temperature ever recorded in NYC is -15 degrees which occurred on February 9, 1934

The coldest temperature year in NYC history is 1888 when the annual average temperature was 49.3 degrees

Record Precipitation or Rain Totals

Average annual rainfall in NYC is 49.69 inches

The rainiest year on record in NYC is 1983 with 80.56 inches of rain

The driest year on record in NYC is 1965 with 26.09 inches of rain

Snowfall Records in NYC

NYC averages 22.4 inches of yearly snow

The snowiest winter on record is 1995-1996 with 75.6 inches of snow

The largest snowstorm in NYC history is 26.9" which occurred on February 11-12, 2006

The greatest daily snowfall total in NYC history is 25.5" which occurred on December 26, 1947

The snowiest month in NYC history is 36.9" which occurred in February of 2010

Wind Records in NYC

The highest wind gust ever recorded in Central Park is 78 mph which occurred on December 2, 1974

On October 14, 1954 wind gusts of 113 mph were recorded in The Battery on the tip of Manhattan. That is a very high wind but NYC is not one of the Windiest Cities in the United States.

Sunshine Levels in NYC

On average the sun shines 58% of the time in NYC. To see how that compares with other United States Cities see Annual Average Sunshine Levels in New York City.

For more see Chicago Weather Facts and Records

Greatest Daily Snowfall Totals in New York City History

Greatest Daily Snowfall Totals in Philadelphia History

Best Weather Cities in the United States

Worst Weather Cities in the United States

Source:

National Weather Service