Three tips to avoid or address significant weather when visiting New York City

The New York City area is familiar with significant weather events, when the local weather deviates well beyond what is usually seen from day to day. However, with global temperatures rising and extreme weather events happening more frequently and with more severity [1], we need to think more about when, where, and how we travel. 

New York City is one of the major travel locations in the world, with tens of millions of tourists a year visiting the city [2]. However, if you are not a local or know one to ask, then when is the best time to visit New York City (and the greater area) to avoid significant weather impacting your travel plans?

When is it best to visit New York City

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According to information from the USA’s National Weather Service from the past eight years [3], here are some severe weather-related points to consider:

• The most common significant weather events that impact the New York City area are heavy rain, flooding, and snowfall. Often accompanied with high winds. 
• Most significant weather events in New York City do not last more than one day (75%), and a minor amount last more than two days (5%).  
• January to March are the months with the most significant weather, usually snowfall and high wind events lasting between one to four days.
• April to July have the least amount of significant weather, usually happening one more than two days during a month, and typically related to rain, lighting, and the very rare tornado.
• August to October tend to be impacted by heavy rain & flooding, wind, and the occasional tropical storm.
• November and December are mostly impacted by a mix of heavy rain, high winds, and snow events.

Significant weather will disrupt travel plans on the days with bad weather, but there may still be impacts on public services and transport that extend beyond the significant weather days.  

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Severe weather-related travel tips for New York City

Some significant weather-related New York City travel tips are:

Tip 1:Visit New York City from April to July. Keep an eye on the current-days and 3-day forecast from USA’s National Weather Service and local media. Then, adjust your plans as needed.

Tip 2: Plan for contingencies ahead of time in your sightseeing, and for the rare occasion you get “caught in the storm” and aftermath and may not be traveling outbound on the day you planned (including adequate funds or travel insurance that covers extra hotel and transport costs).   

Tip 3:  Always make sure your mobile phone is on, charged, and with you so that you receive automatic emergency services notices. New York City public services and residents are no strangers to significant weather. They are often well prepared, and information will be constantly available around you in messages, signs, media, and word-of-mouth.     

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_References:

_{[1] IPCC. “Sixth Assessment Report”, 2021. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/}  

_{[2] Office of the New York State Comptroller. “The Tourism Industry in New York City”. 2021 https://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/osdc/tourism-industry-new-york-city}

_{[3] National Weather Service. “NWS New York Significant Weather Events Archive”. 2023 https://www.weather.gov/okx/stormeventsf you plan to visit the New York City area, you should do so between April and July to avoid the chance of severe weather. Here are three severe weather-related travel tips you can use all year round.}

_{📷: Photo by Matteo Catanese on Unsplash}