Climate Insights for Manhattan

The climate in Manhattan is temperate. The average annual temperature is 14°C and approximately 857mm of precipitation falls per year. May is the wettest month, receiving around 162mm of rainfall. Manhattan is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, June, August. The coldest months are January, February, December, when temperatures can drop to -5°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Manhattan has a wide annual temperature range, spanning 38°C from the coldest to warmest months. The warmest month is July, when average highs reach 33°C and the mean temperature sits around 27°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -5°C and the daily average is -1°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 12°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between September and October, with a 8°C shift in average temperatures.

Manhattan is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 857mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 71mm per month. The wettest month is May, averaging 162mm of rainfall. August and April also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is February, with just 26mm. That's 137mm less than May, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic. Light snowfall can occur between January and December, totalling around 44cm annually. January is the snowiest month with approximately 18cm.

Manhattan is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 14km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is April, averaging 17km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 12km/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.

It is currently summer in Manhattan, which began on June 21, 2026. Manhattan 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 33°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -5°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 (8 days from now).

The best time to visit Manhattan is during September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 22°C with modest rainfall averaging 61mm per month. By contrast, July can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 33°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to -5°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Manhattan 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.