Best time to visit

UNITED STATES

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Choose your region first. Compare eight cities below. Summer suits many northern trips; winter can suit Florida.

Weather scores use New York as a reference. They are not forecasts or measures of snow, prices or crowds. How to use these ratings

Your year in United States

AvoidFairGoodGreatIdeal

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

A 0 to 100 comfort rating from daytime heat, overnight chill, rainfall and storm risk, for New York. Higher is better. Some booking links earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Best months

May to Jun, Sep to Oct

The steadiest weather, peaking around Jun.

Shoulder

Apr, Jul to Aug, Nov

Other months to compare; prices and crowds depend on your destination and dates.

Low season

Dec to Mar

Hard cold.

The year at a glance

The score above uses New York weather. It cannot rate the whole USA. Check the city table for a closer match to your trip.

Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November. Activity peaks around September 10. Check current forecasts before coastal travel.

Jun

Best month

29°C

Warmest, Jul

115mm

Wettest, Jul

-3°C

Coldest, Jan

USA weather, city by city

New York sets the weather score above. Compare cities before you choose a month.

Swipe the table sideways on a small screen.

US city weather, 1991–2020
Month	New York City	Chicago	Miami	Denver	Seattle	San Francisco	Los Angeles	Honolulu
Jan	4°C 92 mm rain	0°C 51 mm rain	25°C 46 mm rain	8°C 12 mm rain	9°C 147 mm rain	14°C 99 mm rain	19°C 73 mm rain	27°C 47 mm rain
Feb	6°C 81 mm rain	2°C 50 mm rain	26°C 55 mm rain	9°C 13 mm rain	10°C 96 mm rain	16°C 101 mm rain	19°C 76 mm rain	27°C 49 mm rain
Mar	10°C 109 mm rain	8°C 62 mm rain	27°C 62 mm rain	14°C 28 mm rain	12°C 106 mm rain	17°C 69 mm rain	19°C 44 mm rain	27°C 60 mm rain
Apr	17°C 104 mm rain	15°C 95 mm rain	29°C 85 mm rain	17°C 42 mm rain	15°C 81 mm rain	19°C 35 mm rain	20°C 15 mm rain	28°C 20 mm rain
May	22°C 101 mm rain	21°C 114 mm rain	30°C 161 mm rain	22°C 58 mm rain	19°C 48 mm rain	20°C 12 mm rain	21°C 7 mm rain	29°C 21 mm rain
Jun	26°C 115 mm rain	27°C 104 mm rain	32°C 267 mm rain	29°C 43 mm rain	22°C 37 mm rain	22°C 4 mm rain	22°C 2 mm rain	30°C 13 mm rain
Jul	29°C 117 mm rain	29°C 94 mm rain	33°C 187 mm rain	32°C 54 mm rain	25°C 15 mm rain	23°C 0 mm rain	24°C 1 mm rain	31°C 13 mm rain
Aug	28°C 116 mm rain	28°C 108 mm rain	33°C 243 mm rain	31°C 46 mm rain	25°C 25 mm rain	23°C 1 mm rain	25°C 0 mm rain	32°C 21 mm rain
Sep	25°C 109 mm rain	24°C 81 mm rain	32°C 260 mm rain	27°C 38 mm rain	22°C 41 mm rain	24°C 2 mm rain	25°C 3 mm rain	31°C 22 mm rain
Oct	18°C 111 mm rain	17°C 87 mm rain	30°C 194 mm rain	19°C 25 mm rain	16°C 99 mm rain	22°C 20 mm rain	24°C 12 mm rain	30°C 38 mm rain
Nov	12°C 91 mm rain	9°C 61 mm rain	27°C 90 mm rain	13°C 18 mm rain	11°C 160 mm rain	18°C 52 mm rain	22°C 21 mm rain	29°C 57 mm rain
Dec	7°C 111 mm rain	3°C 54 mm rain	26°C 62 mm rain	8°C 12 mm rain	8°C 145 mm rain	15°C 105 mm rain	19°C 57 mm rain	28°C 55 mm rain

Miami stays warm in winter. Seattle has drier summers. These city stations leave out Alaska, the desert Southwest and mountain conditions.

Sources and weather notes

City figures are NOAA weather-station averages for 1991–2020. Highs are average daily highs; rain is the average monthly total. These are planning averages, not forecasts. The New York weather score above uses different input values.

New York City station · Chicago station · Miami station · Denver station · Seattle station · San Francisco station · Los Angeles station · Honolulu station

Atlantic hurricane season · Yellowstone seasons and road access · Checked October 2026

the USA month by month

Highs, lows, rainfall and the rating, for New York.

JanuaryCold with a little rain.Avoid 16

Daytime high: 4°C / 39°F
Overnight low: -3°C / 27°F
Rainfall: 90 mm

Cold with a little rain.

FebruaryCold with a little rain.Avoid 27

Daytime high: 6°C / 43°F
Overnight low: -2°C / 28°F
Rainfall: 78 mm

Cold with a little rain.

MarchCool with a little rain.Good 48

Daytime high: 10°C / 50°F
Overnight low: 1°C / 34°F
Rainfall: 100 mm

Cool with a little rain.

AprilCool with a little rain.Ideal 74

Daytime high: 16°C / 61°F
Overnight low: 7°C / 45°F
Rainfall: 100 mm

Cool with a little rain.

MayMild with a little rainIdeal 80

Daytime high: 22°C / 72°F
Overnight low: 12°C / 54°F
Rainfall: 95 mm

Mild with a little rain.

JuneWarm with a little rainIdeal 82

Daytime high: 27°C / 81°F
Overnight low: 18°C / 64°F
Rainfall: 90 mm

Warm with a little rain.

JulyHot with a little rain.Great 71

Daytime high: 29°C / 84°F
Overnight low: 21°C / 70°F
Rainfall: 115 mm

Hot with a little rain.

AugustWarm with a little rain.Ideal 76

Daytime high: 28°C / 82°F
Overnight low: 20°C / 68°F
Rainfall: 105 mm

Warm with a little rain.

SeptemberWarm with a little rainIdeal 80

Daytime high: 24°C / 75°F
Overnight low: 16°C / 61°F
Rainfall: 95 mm

Warm with a little rain.

OctoberMild with a little rain.Ideal 80

Daytime high: 18°C / 64°F
Overnight low: 9°C / 48°F
Rainfall: 90 mm

Mild with a little rain.

NovemberCool with a little rain.Great 63

Daytime high: 12°C / 54°F
Overnight low: 4°C / 39°F
Rainfall: 90 mm

Cool with a little rain.

DecemberCold with a little rain.Avoid 28

Daytime high: 6°C / 43°F
Overnight low: -1°C / 30°F
Rainfall: 95 mm

Cold with a little rain.

Where you go changes when you go

Northeast and Midwest

May to October is the window, with warm summers and spectacular foliage in October. Winters are cold and snowy, especially around the Great Lakes.

The South and Florida

November to April is prime, with warm, dry, comfortable days. Summer is hot, humid and stormy, and the coast watches the hurricane season closely.

The West and the parks

Check each park’s road dates. Yellowstone has limited winter access, and roads can close with weather.

Best time to visit the USA for

Fall foliage

Late September into October across New England and the northern states, when the maples turn and the air is crisp.

National parks

For Yellowstone, check current road and facility dates. Summer has wider access, but weather can still close roads.

Beaches and the South

Winter and spring for Florida and the Gulf, before the summer heat and hurricane risk arrive.

City breaks

May, June, September and October for New York, Chicago and Boston, with mild days and long evenings.

What is on, and when

Fall foliage, October

New England and the Appalachians blaze red and gold, drawing leaf-peepers up the back roads.

Festive season, December

Cities light up for the holidays, with skating rinks and markets despite the cold.

Top tours in New York Day trips in the USA

By city

Which city, which month

The strip above rates New York. Pick a month to see how 8 cities compare.

Off the frame: Honolulu (Hawaiʻi). It is in the grid below.

September

City	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
San Francisco California	71	74	86	96	100	100	100	100	100	100	91	71
Los Angeles California	88	87	96	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	94
Seattle Washington	44	52	62	76	96	100	100	100	100	74	48	40
Denver Colorado	26	33	61	82	95	97	86	90	100	92	55	26
Chicago Illinois	17	17	39	75	73	77	80	75	86	80	47	16
New York City New York	18	29	49	74	78	72	71	72	75	72	63	35
Miami Florida	100	96	93	83	55	38	48	40	39	51	82	93
Honolulu Hawaiʻi	99	98	94	100	97	93	90	87	90	93	94	96

Colours and numbers rate weather comfort. The map shows the contiguous US; Honolulu is included in the city list and monthly table.

Find your US season

Suggested windows for outdoor sightseeing. These are climate patterns, not forecasts; each city has worthwhile reasons to visit in other months.

San Francisco

September and October

Late summer warmth often arrives in early autumn. Bring layers for wind and coastal fog.

Los Angeles

April to June and September to October

Coastal sightseeing is mild for much of the year. Inland neighbourhoods are hotter.

Seattle

July to September

Summer brings the driest conditions for the waterfront and nearby mountain trips.

Denver

May to June and September

City weather differs sharply from the high Rockies. Plan mountain hiking and skiing around local conditions.

Chicago

June to September

Warm weather suits the lakefront and architecture walks; winter can be very cold.

New York City

May to June and September to October

Spring and autumn suit long city walks. Summer is warmer and more humid.

Miami

December to April

Winter and early spring are generally drier. Summer brings more heat, humidity and rain.

Honolulu

April to October

Warm throughout the year, with a generally drier summer. Conditions vary across Oʻahu.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Grand Canyon

About the US city ratings

Rounded NOAA 1991–2020 monthly station normals, converted from Fahrenheit to Celsius and inches to millimetres. Airport observations may differ from downtown and nearby mountains. San Francisco and Los Angeles have especially strong coastal microclimates. The country overview retains its existing New York series.

Local season guidance: San Francisco Travel, Miami & Miami Beach, Go Hawaiʻi.

NOAA climate normals methodology

Watch out

Hard cold

Dec to Feb.

Where to stay in the USA

Compare places to stay around New York. Choose your dates on the booking site.

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Before you choose a stay

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Compare actual rates for your travel dates. The weather scores above do not predict accommodation prices or availability.

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Good to know

What is the best time to visit the USA?

It depends on your region. Compare the eight cities below, then check local conditions for your travel dates.

When is hurricane season in the USA?

The Atlantic season runs June through November. Activity usually peaks around September 10. Check current forecasts for coastal trips.

When is the best time to see fall foliage?

Late September into October in New England and the northern states, a little later as you move south.

Where else, and when

Every country on one map, or jump straight to another guide.

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Plan another month or destination

Browse all 75 country guides · Sources, editorial approach and weather methodology