New York has a **humid continental climate** across most inland areas, with **humid subtropical** conditions in parts of New York City and Long Island under some modern climate classifications. Because of the state’s size and topographic variation, weather differs substantially between the Atlantic coast, Hudson Valley, Great Lakes belt, and mountain regions.
| Region | Typical Climate Notes | |---|---| | New York City & Long Island | Hot summers, cool to mild winters, relatively moderated by the Atlantic Ocean | | Hudson Valley | Four distinct seasons; warm summers and cold winters | | Western New York | Pronounced lake-effect influence, especially winter snow near Lakes Erie and Ontario | | Adirondacks/Catskills | Cooler summers, colder winters, more snowfall, shorter growing season |
Approximate average temperatures vary widely: - **January:** often around the low 20s °F (-6 to -3 °C) in colder inland and mountain areas, and around the low 30s °F (0 to 2 °C) in New York City. - **July:** often around the upper 60s to low 70s °F (20 to 23 °C) in cooler uplands, and mid-to-upper 70s °F (24 to 26 °C) in warmer lowlands and the city.
Precipitation is generally spread through the year. Annual totals commonly range from roughly 30 to 50 inches depending on region and elevation, with higher amounts in some uplands and significant snowfall in western and northern New York. Lake-effect snow can be intense east and southeast of Lakes Erie and Ontario, especially near Buffalo, Watertown, and Tug Hill.
- **Köppen climate classification:** Mostly `Dfa`/`Dfb` (humid continental); areas of `Cfa` influence in downstate coastal zones; localized highland variation in the mountains. - **Humidity:** Moderate to high in summer, especially downstate and along coasts. - **Best time to visit:** Often late spring through fall for general travel; winter for skiing and snow sports in the Adirondacks and Catskills; autumn for foliage. - **Natural hazards:** Winter storms, blizzards, lake-effect snow, coastal storms including nor’easters, flooding, occasional hurricanes or tropical storm remnants, heat waves, and severe thunderstorms.
Climate change is affecting New York through warmer average temperatures, heavier rainfall events, coastal flooding risk, sea-level rise along the Atlantic and estuarine shoreline, and changing snow and ice patterns.