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New York City

New York is the home to the largest population of people in the whole of the United States. This city is a major player in the county's financial situation; plays an important role for international diplomacy; and is the home to the headquarters of the United Nations. This is a place where a lot goes on every single day.

In order to fully appreciate everything this city has to offer, of course you need to prepare properly for all weather that can be experienced here. When is the warmest month? When is the coldest month? When should I expect rainfall? The answers to all of these questions (and more) will be discussed here.

Seasons

Spring in New York is from March to May and temperatures can vary quite a lot within these three months. At the start of spring, in March temperatures will usually vary between 30-50°F. Once April hits, this will increase to about 45-65°F. If the temperature increases more than this between March and April (up to 70°F in April is not unheard of) you can expect to be hit by a thunderstorm. What to mostly keep in mind here is to always have a warm coat in hand, along with an umbrella for any unexpected rain spells. Some year's snowfall may even occur within these two months.

May is when the much nicer, warmer temperatures really start showing. Averaging at around 50-80°F, lower levels of humidity than previous months are expected - some days however, humidity can increase drastically and decrease again just as drastically. An umbrella is still good to have on you in this month, but a slightly lighter coat could be a good idea. Springtime is a pleasant time to visit New York as it has not reached the uncomfortably high humidity levels yet - but some people prefer the warmer season of summer, even with the humidity.

The months of June, July and August are home to the summer season in New York. In June, weather and temperatures are similar to May. Once July and August hit though, the humidity levels really begin to spike, almost uncomfortably so if you are not used to it. The temperature across these two months averages at around 70-95°F sometimes even reaching 100°F, however it is more common to experience mid to upper levels of 80°F. Light clothes are the key to these months, and to be prepared to face sudden downpours of rain. Although, maybe these downpours will be a welcome relief to anyone who isn't used to the high humidity levels that this season provides. Even during the night, temperatures will remain high, making it slightly stifling. However, many people look for hot weather such as this for holiday trips, which means that it is one of the more popular seasons to visit the fabulous New York City. Expect a lot of tourists and holiday goers in these months.

Autumn begins in September and tends to stretch through October and into November. This season begins rather humid (after effect from the high summer humidity) at 70-80°F. In October, the temperature tends to drop to about 50-70°F.

Whereas similar temperatures can be felt in November, winter begins in earnest once December hits, and usually lasts until February. November temperatures average at 40-50°F, and in December these drop to 30-40°F, bringing the cold of winter. Don't let this cold weather put you off visiting New York though. Since it is such a large city, there is always something to do, and winter can be one of the prettier seasons to experience in New York. Beginning with Thanksgiving and working through to New Year, a lot of people are attracted to the many festivities that winter brings to the city.

Climate influences

NYC climate is classed as a humid subtropical climate (according to the Köppen climate classification system), with rather large variations in temperatures, as mentioned previously. The lowest temperatures are not low enough for persisting snow cover, but are low enough for the occasional snowfall. The city climate is heavily affected by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). This is a 70 year long warming and cooling phenomenon that occurs in the North Atlantic which is defined in sea surface temperatures (SST). More recent research into the AMO have yielded results pointing out a potential connected between the AMO and past major droughts in the US. When in the warm phase, the presence of droughts is increased and their longitude expanded. The AMO has also been known to influence the frequency and severity of hurricanes.

Best time to visit?

Well, as always, this will differ from person to person. If you like warm(ish) temperatures and dislike humidity - visit NYC in the spring. For this season you will also have to be prepared to face rain and cold gusts of wind.

Do you prefer very hot weather and can bear high humidity levels - visit NYC in summer. It is also possible to somewhat escape the humidity by hiding inside, but again, if you are visiting NYC you might want to be walking around the city to take in all the sights.

Visiting in autumn will grace you with the many colors of the vegetation in NYC - and lower humidity levels. This makes the season more bearable to some visitors, but now the temperatures will have begun to drop again, and always be on the lookout for sudden torrential downpours; always keen an umbrella handy!

If you are more interested in festivities and yearly traditional parties, visit in winter. You will get both Thanksgiving and Christmas - and we all know that festivities such as these are on another scale in huge cities like NYC. Simply visiting for them is not unheard of. Wild New Year's parties will rock through NYC with invitations open to everyone and anyone interested, definitely classes as a wild night out if you choose your venues correctly.

No matter what season you choose to see NYC, the city will always have a lot to offer.