Weather in New York City in December
December in New York City is a coat month. Treat it as cities, food and short walks, not as a terrace holiday.
In United States, this is how New York City actually wears December, not how a country centroid would. Compared with July and January, December sits in the middle of New York City's year.
- Average temp
- 3°C
0–7°C
- Rainfall
- 105 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- —
- Wind
- 17 km/h
What to expect
Daytime
You want a proper coat in New York City in December, not a festival jacket. Wind makes the same afternoon feel sharper than the map suggests.
Outdoor time is the middle of the day. Finish plans before the light goes. Evenings are for indoors.
Rain
December is the wet side of the year in New York City, the wettest stretch on these averages. Days can be heavy. Plans that cannot survive rain are the wrong plans.
This is not a reason to skip New York City if you like the place. It is a reason to pack for weather and to stop treating every grey hour as a failed holiday.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
Rain jacket
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in New York City
Dates are a starting point for December.
Travel guides for New York City
What to read before you book.
Average weather in New York City
TemperatureRainfall
Similar weather in December
Other destinations whose December averages sit close to this one.
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FAQs about New York City
Climate averages for New York City, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit New York City is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
July is the hottest month, with an average around 26°C.
July is the wettest month, with about 119 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
