Climate Insights for Ithaca

The climate in Ithaca is cool. The average annual temperature is 10°C and approximately 1196mm of precipitation falls per year. Ithaca receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Ithaca is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, June. The coldest months are January, February, December, when temperatures can drop to -6°C. Snowfall occurs from January to December, with around 187cm accumulating over the season.

Temperatures in Ithaca vary considerably across the year, with a 33°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. The warmest month is July, when average highs reach 27°C and the mean temperature sits around 22°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -6°C and the daily average is -3°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 9°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 7°C shift in average temperatures.

Ithaca is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 1196mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 100mm per month. The wettest month is October, averaging 121mm of rainfall. April and July also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is February, with just 85mm. That's 36mm less than October, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around. Snowfall is a regular feature from January to December, with around 187cm accumulating over the season. January typically sees the most snow at around 43cm.

Ithaca is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 11km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is March, averaging 13km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in July, with average winds dropping to 8km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 5km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 13km/h in winter, 12km/h in spring, 9km/h in summer, 11km/h in autumn.

It is currently summer in Ithaca, which began on June 21, 2026. Ithaca is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in July at around 27°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -6°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 (7 days from now).

The best time to visit Ithaca is during September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 90mm per month. By contrast, July can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 27°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to -6°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely. Pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Ithaca based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.