New York City in February: a seasonal travel plan
New York City, United States. In february, the average daytime high is 4.7 °C and the night-time low is -0.7 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Choose a month
Selected month: February
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: New York City
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 4.7 °C
- Nighttime low
- -0.7 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 118.1 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 10.7
- Daylight
- 10.6 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 4.5 | -0.9 | 3.6 |
| Days 11–20 | 4.1 | -1.3 | 3.8 |
| From day 21 | 5.8 | 0.5 | 3.3 |
What this month is like
New York City, United States. In february, the average daytime high is 4.7 °C and the night-time low is -0.7 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
There are 10.7 wet days on average, with about 118.1 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Average daylight is 10.6 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.
What to pack
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Average night-time temperatures fall below freezing, so add warm clothes for early outings. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 4.2 °C, February — 4.7 °C, next month — 7.4 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 10.9, 10.7 and 11.4.
Things to do
New York is five boroughs with separate characters: Manhattan sets the pace, Brooklyn and Queens move at a gentler rhythm, and ferries link them across the harbour. Plan each day around subway lines, since Midtown to Downtown takes about half an hour, so two neighbouring districts a day is a sensible limit.
Central Park and the Met
Start at the southern edge of Central Park, walk to Bethesda Terrace and the lake, then cross to the Metropolitan Museum in the afternoon. The collections fill a whole day, so pick two or three galleries in advance instead of trying to see everything.
The High Line and Chelsea
Walk the High Line from Gansevoort Street to Hudson Yards, where a former freight railway runs above the streets between planting beds. Below it, Chelsea Market fills brick vaults with food stalls and small kitchens.
Ferry to the Statue of Liberty
Ferries leave Battery Park for Liberty Island and continue to Ellis Island. Take a morning crossing so you are back by lunch, then walk along Wall Street and through Battery Park.
Where to stay
Midtown
Midtown works well for a first visit: Times Square, Bryant Park, Grand Central and the Museum of Modern Art sit within walking distance. Hotels are expensive and the streets stay loud late, so ask for a room on a higher floor away from the avenue.
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village suits travellers who want quiet streets of townhouses, cafés and jazz clubs. Midtown is ten minutes away by subway, but parking is scarce and a rental car becomes a burden here.
DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights
DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights give you the bridge and Manhattan skyline, and the waterfront promenade is good for an evening walk. The area is calmer than Midtown, though most museums mean a subway ride across the river.
Getting there and around
From Kennedy Airport the AirTrain connects to the subway at Jamaica and Howard Beach, where the E, J and A lines run into Manhattan; from Newark, NJ Transit trains reach Penn Station. Inside the city the subway runs all night and remains the fastest way across the island. Walk short distances in the centre, and check which direction a line runs before crossing between districts, because north-south and east-west routes use different trunks.
Three days in New York
Midtown and Central Park
Begin at Grand Central, go up the Rockefeller Center observation deck, then walk down Fifth Avenue past St Patrick's Cathedral into the park. In the evening head through Times Square towards Bryant Park.
Downtown and Brooklyn Bridge
Take a morning ferry to the Statue of Liberty, then walk to the 9/11 Memorial and Wall Street. Cross the Brooklyn Bridge on foot to DUMBO and return by subway.
Brooklyn and Queens
Spend the day in Brooklyn with Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Heights promenade. On the way back stop in Astoria, Queens, where Greek tavernas and bakeries line the streets.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4.2 | -0.7 | 146.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 |
| February | 4.7 | -0.7 | 118.1 | 10.7 | 10.6 |
| March | 7.4 | 2.0 | 144.4 | 11.4 | 11.9 |
| April | 12.1 | 6.4 | 120.7 | 12.1 | 13.3 |
| May | 17.1 | 11.7 | 113.8 | 12.0 | 14.4 |
| June | 22.4 | 17.3 | 85.8 | 12.4 | 15.0 |
| July | 26.5 | 21.8 | 156.1 | 17.4 | 14.8 |
| August | 26.3 | 21.6 | 114.0 | 15.6 | 13.8 |
| September | 23.5 | 18.4 | 116.7 | 10.3 | 12.5 |
| October | 18.3 | 12.9 | 132.4 | 9.5 | 11.2 |
| November | 12.4 | 6.7 | 115.5 | 7.9 | 10.0 |
| December | 7.4 | 2.8 | 160.3 | 10.8 | 9.3 |
Frequently asked questions
New York City: what is the temperature in February?
The average daytime high is 4.7 °C and the night-time low is -0.7 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and indoor activities for mornings and evenings.
How many days with precipitation are there in February?
On average, there are 10.7 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 118.1 mm. There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.
What should I pack for walks in February?
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Average night-time temperatures fall below freezing, so add warm clothes for early outings. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 4.5 °C; 11–20 — 4.1 °C; 21 to month-end — 5.8 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in February?
The average is 10.6 hours. Spread walks between the morning and afternoon, then leave the evening for dinner or indoor activities.
Is New York City worth visiting in February?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 4.7 °C and nights around -0.7 °C work for you. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
What can I do in New York City on a wet day in February?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for New York City in February?
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Average daylight is 10.6 hours.