New York City, NY weather in February
New York City is chilly and snowy in February: highs average 42°F and nights drop to about 30°F. Rain or snow falls on about 10 days. Snowfall averages about 10.1 in. This is the depth of winter in New York City. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 42°F
- Normal low
- 30°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 3.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.1 in
- snow on the ground 8 days
How February changes from start to finish
| February 1 | February 28 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 40°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 32°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 34% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:05 am / 5:13 pm | 6:31 am / 5:45 pm |
| Daylight | 10.1 h | 11.2 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical February day
- 6 am32°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 am34°Fdew point 21°F
- Noon37°Fdew point 21°F
- 3 pm40°Fdew point 21°F
- 6 pm38°Fdew point 22°F
- 9 pm37°Fdew point 22°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from New York Laguardia Airport (8 mi away); average wind 13 mph; clear or few clouds in 55% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 40%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 of 28
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 of 28
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 28
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 28
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow10 of 28
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 28
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below18 of 28
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more8 of 28
Average days per February, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in February
Normal precipitation is 3.2 in; a dry February brings about 2.0 in and a wet one about 4.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 10.1 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How February varies from year to year
- Warmest February, 1991-20202018: average high 50°F
- Coolest February2015: average high 32°F
- Wettest February2010: 6.7 in
- Driest February2002: 0.7 in
- Highest reading78°F (February 21, 2018)
- Lowest reading-1°F (February 14, 2016)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
February compared with January and March
| January | February | March | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 40°F | 42°F | 50°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 30°F | 36°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 10 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 10.7 h | 12.0 h |
Highs change by +2°F from January and +8°F into March.
Nearby alternatives in February
- Warmer: Dover, DE134 mi · high 47°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Albany, NY135 mi · high 36°F · 11 wet days
How New York City ranks in February
- Normal high262nd warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 10 in New York
- Wet days274th driest of 378
- Comfortable days239th most of 340
What to pack for New York City in February
- A warm jacket – lows near 30°F, highs near 42°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- Waterproof boots – about 10.1 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 18 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
February has 816 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is New York City in February?
The normal high is 42°F and the normal low is 30°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest February reading was -1°F (February 14, 2016).
Does it rain a lot in New York City in February?
About 10 days in February have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.2 in. The wettest February in 1991-2020 was in 2010 (6.7 in); the driest was in 2002 (0.7 in).
Does it snow in New York City in February?
Yes. Normal snowfall in February is 10.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 8 days.
Is February a good time to visit New York City?
February ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for New York City (36 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and frost dates: New York Cntrl Pk Twr (USW00094728), 4.9 mi NNE of the city center, 130 ft (95 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth and humidity and wind by hour: New York Laguardia Airport (USW00014732), 8.0 mi NE of the city center, 11 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Teterboro Airport (USW00094741), 9.8 mi NNW of the city center, 9 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: La Guardia Airport (725030-14732), 8.0 mi NE of the city center, 10 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.